Effects of the FITKids randomized controlled trial on executive control and brain function.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the effect of a physical activity (PA) intervention on brain and behavioral indices of executive control in preadolescent children.

Methods

Two hundred twenty-one children (7-9 years) were randomly assigned to a 9-month afterschool PA program or a wait-list control. In addition to changes in fitness (maximal oxygen consumption), electrical activity in the brain (P3-ERP) and behavioral measures (accuracy, reaction time) of executive control were collected by using tasks that modulated attentional inhibition and cognitive flexibility.

Results

Fitness improved more among intervention participants from pretest to posttest compared with the wait-list control (1.3 mL/kg per minute, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3 to 2.4; d = 0.34 for group difference i

SUBMITTER: Hillman CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4179093 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature