Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on cognition of children

ZHONG Xiao-ke; WANG Zhi-peng; JIANG Chang-hao

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2022-0051

PDF(928 KB)

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2022, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (11) : 1231-1236. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2022-0051

Meta Analysis

Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on cognition of children

ZHONG Xiao-ke^*, WANG Zhi-peng, JIANG Chang-hao

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between aerobic exercise and cognition of children by Meta-analysis, so as to provide new orientation for researches on this field. Methods Randomized controlled trial studies on aerobic exercise and children's cognition published from January 2011 to December 2021 were retrieved by searching CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science databases. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the literature, the quality of the literature was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Then literature with high quality was included. Revman5.4 and Stata12 software were used for Meta-analysis of the included literature. Random effect model or fixed effect model were selected according to heterogeneity test results.The SMD value and 95%CI were calculated and publication bias was assessed. Results A total of 2 052 subjects were included in 11 articles, including randomized controlled trials (n=10) and quasi-experimental designs (n=1). Aerobic exercise can significantly improve children's attention (SMD=0.97, 95%CI:0.34 - 1.61, Z=2.99, P=0.003), and inhibition control, the sub-component of executive function (SMD=0.59, 95%CI:0.07 - 1.10, Z=2.51, P=0.01). However, it had no significant influence on working memory and cognition flexibility (P＞0.05). Conclusion Aerobic exercise can significantly improve the cognitive function of children, but it has a selective influence on inhibition control, the sub-component of the execution function.

Key words

aerobic exercise / children / cognition / Meta-analysis

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

ZHONG Xiao-ke, WANG Zhi-peng, JIANG Chang-hao. Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on cognition of children[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2022, 30(11): 1231-1236 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2022-0051

References

[1] 蒋长好,陈婷婷. 身体活动对情绪的影响及其脑机制[J]. 心理科学进展, 2014,22(12): 1889-1898.
[2] 季建林,叶尘宇. 行为决定健康: 改变不良行为方式,提高生活质量[J]. 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志, 2020, 29(9): 769-773.
[3] Latorre-Román PA, Mora-López D, García-Pinillos F. Effects of a physical activity programme in the school setting on physical fitness in preschool children[J]. Child Care Health Dev, 2018, 44(3): 427-432.
[4] Paluska SA, Schwenk TL. Physical activity and mental health: Current concepts[J]. Sports Med, 2000, 29(3): 167-180.
[5] Mikkelsen K,Stojanovska L, Polenakovic M, et al. Exercise and mental health[J]. Maturitas, 2017, 106: 48-56.
[6] Etnier JL, Salazar W, Landers DM, et al. The influence of physical fitness and exercise upon cognitive functioning: A meta-analysis[J]. J Sport Exerc Psychol, 1997, 19(3): 249-277.
[7] Alesi M, Bianco A, Luppina G, et al. Improving children's coordinative skills and executive functions:The effects of a football exercise program[J]. Percept Mot Skills, 2016, 122(1): 27-46.
[8] Etnier J, Labban JD, Piepmeier A, et al. Effects of an acute bout of exercise on memory in 6th grade children[J]. Pediatr Exerc Sci, 2014, 26(3): 250-258.
[9] Augustijn M, D'Hondt E, Leemans A, et al. Weight loss, behavioral change, and structural neuroplasticity in children with obesity through a multidisciplinary treatment program[J]. Hum Brain Mapp, 2019, 40(1): 137-150.
[10] Cashin AG,Mcauley JH. Clinimetrics: Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale[J]. J Physiother, 2020, 66(1): 59.
[11] Kulinna PH, Stylianou M, Dyson B, et al. The Effect of an authentic acute physical education session of dance on elementary students' selective attention[J]. Biomed Res Int, 2018, 2018: 8790283.
[12] Huang CJ, Tu HY, Hsueh MC, et al.Effects of acute aerobic exercise on executive function in children with and without learning disability:A randomized controlled trial[J]. Adapt Phys Act Q, 2020, 37(4): 404-422.
[13] Schmidt M, Egger F,Conzelmann A. Delayed positive effects of an acute bout of coordinative exercise on children's attention[J]. Percept Mot Skills, 2015,121(2): 431-446.
[14] Chou C, Chen K, Huang M, et al. Can movement games enhance executive function in overweight children? A randomized controlled trial[J]. J Teach Phys Educ, 2020, 39(4): 527-535.
[15] Gallotta MC, Emerenziani GP, Iazzoni S, et al. Impacts of coordinative training on normal weight and overweight/obese children's attentional performance[J]. Front Hum Neurosci, 2015, 9: 577.
[16] Gall S, Adams L, Joubert N, et al. Effect of a 20-week physical activity intervention on selective attention and academic performance in children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods: A cluster randomized control trial[J].PloS One, 2018, 13(11): e0206908.
[17] Hillman CH, Pontifex MB, Castelli DM, et al. Effects of theFITKids randomized controlled trial on executive control and brain function[J]. Pediatrics, 2014,134(4): e1063-e1071.
[18] Kamio K, Pontifex MB, O'Leary KC, et al. The effects of an afterschool physical activity program on working memory in preadolescent children[J]. Dev Sci, 2011, 14(5): 1046-1058.
[19] Moreau D, Kirk IJ,Waldie KE. High-intensity training enhances executive function in children in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial[J]. eLife, 2017, 6: e25062.
[20] van der Niet AG, Smith J, Oosterlaan J, et al.Effects of a cognitively demanding aerobic intervention during recess on children's physical fitness and executive functioning[J]. Pediatr Exerc Sci, 2016, 28(1):64-70.
[21] Veldman S, Jones RA, Stanley RM, et al. Promoting physical activity and executive functions among children: A cluster randomized controlled trial of an after-school program in Australia[J]. J Phys Act Health, 2020, 17(10): 940-946.
[22] Le Pelley ME, Mitchell CJ,Beesley T, et al. Attention and associative learning in humans: An integrative review[J]. Psychol Bull, 2016, 142(10): 1111-1140.
[23] Perner J, Lang B. Development of theory of mind and executive control[J]. Trends Cogn Sci, 1999, 3(9): 337-344.
[24] Diamond A. Executive functions[J]. Annu Rev Psychol, 2013, 64: 135-168.
[25] Meyer DE,Kieras DE. A computational theory of executive cognitive processes and multiple-task performance: Part 1. Basic mechanisms[J]. Psychol Rev, 1997, 104(1):3-65.
[26] Dempster FN. The rise and fall of the inhibitory mechanism: toward a unified theory of cognitive development and aging[J].Dev Rev, 1992, 12(1): 45-75.
[27] Nigg JT. On inhibition/disinhibition in developmental psychopathology:Views from cognitive and personality psychology and a working inhibition taxonomy[J]. Psycho Bull, 2000, 126(2): 220-246.
[28] 丁锦红,郭春彦. 工作记忆的脑机制研究[J]. 心理科学, 2001,24(5): 583-585.
[29] Baddeley A. Working memory: Theories, models, and controversies[J].Annu Rev Psychol, 2012, 63: 1-29.
[30] Dajani DR, Uddin LQ. Demystifying cognitive flexibility: Implications for clinical and developmental neuroscience[J]. Trends Neurosci, 2015, 38(9): 571-578.
[31] Higgind J, Green SE. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions version 5.1.0: The cochrance collaboration[M]. Naunyn-Schmi-edebergs Archiv for Experimentelle Pathologie and Pharmakologie, 2011: 38.
[32] Coopre HM. Integrating research: A guide for literature reviews[M]. 2nd ed. CA: SAGE, 1989:1.
[33] Chen AG, Yan J, Yin HC, et al.Effects of acute aerobic exercise on multiple aspects of executive function inpreadolescent children[J]. J Sport Exerc Psychol, 2014, 15(6): 627-636.
[34] Drollette ES, Hillman CH. Walking effects on memory in children: Implications for individual differences in BMI[J]. Ment Health Phys Act, 2020, 18, 100317.
[35] Koutsandréou F, Wegner M, Niemann C, et al.Effects of motor versus cardiovascular exercise training on children's working memory[J]. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2016, 48(6): 1144-1152.