TY - JOUR
T1 - How does exercise benefit performance on cognitive tests in primary-school pupils?
AU - Hill, Liam J. B.
AU - Williams, Justin H. G.
AU - Aucott, Lorna
AU - Thomson, Jenny
AU - Mon-Williams, Mark
N1 - The research received funding and support from Aberdeen City Council. The corresponding author received a scholarship from the Medical Research Council while conducting this research. We are extremely grateful to all of the teachers, parents, guardians, and especially children who made the research possible. We would also like to thank Dr Helen Brown for her advice on using linear mixed-effects modelling.
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - AimWe have previously demonstrated improved cognitive performance after a classroom-based exercise regime. In this study, we examined the reproducibility of this effect in a more socio-economically diverse sample and also investigated whether cognitive benefits of exercise were moderated by body mass index (BMI) or symptoms of attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).MethodA crossover design trial (2wks in duration) randomized 552 children (mean age 9y 8mo, SD 1y 2mo; range 8-12y) by their school into two counterbalanced groups. Children were eligible to participate provided that they did not receive any additional support. One group received a classroom-based programme of physical exercise on week 1 and then no programme on week 2, and this order was reversed for the other group. Each week, all participants completed a cognitive test battery that was delivered in one part per day at the end of each school day.ResultsOn the cognitive tests, a significant interaction between counterbalance group and exercise was observed (p < 0.001). Benefits occurred only for participants who exercised during the second week (mean improvement mean 3.85, standard error 1.39). Although test scores were affected by age, sex, and level of ADHD symptoms, the effect of exercise was not moderated by either these factors or BMI.InterpretationExercise interventions have a positive effect (with variable magnitude) on cognitive performance, possibly by facilitating practice effects. These effects are not moderated by sex, ADHD symptom level, or BMI.
AB - AimWe have previously demonstrated improved cognitive performance after a classroom-based exercise regime. In this study, we examined the reproducibility of this effect in a more socio-economically diverse sample and also investigated whether cognitive benefits of exercise were moderated by body mass index (BMI) or symptoms of attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).MethodA crossover design trial (2wks in duration) randomized 552 children (mean age 9y 8mo, SD 1y 2mo; range 8-12y) by their school into two counterbalanced groups. Children were eligible to participate provided that they did not receive any additional support. One group received a classroom-based programme of physical exercise on week 1 and then no programme on week 2, and this order was reversed for the other group. Each week, all participants completed a cognitive test battery that was delivered in one part per day at the end of each school day.ResultsOn the cognitive tests, a significant interaction between counterbalance group and exercise was observed (p < 0.001). Benefits occurred only for participants who exercised during the second week (mean improvement mean 3.85, standard error 1.39). Although test scores were affected by age, sex, and level of ADHD symptoms, the effect of exercise was not moderated by either these factors or BMI.InterpretationExercise interventions have a positive effect (with variable magnitude) on cognitive performance, possibly by facilitating practice effects. These effects are not moderated by sex, ADHD symptom level, or BMI.
UR - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21649650/
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.03954.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.03954.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21649650
VL - 53
SP - 630
EP - 635
JO - Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
JF - Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
IS - 7
ER -