Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Age, and Multiple Aspects of Executive Function Among Preadolescent Children

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and age have been positively associated with children's executive function; however, few studies have simultaneously assessed the associations between both variables and different aspects of executive function among preadolescent children. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the simultaneous influence of CRF and age on three aspects of executive function. Preadolescent children's (n = 338) CRF levels were estimated based on the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test and then grouped into two age groups (Young Group: 9-10 years old and Old Group: 11-12 years old). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted for the 2-back task, the Flanker task, and the Local-Global task to assess the influence of CRF and age on working memory, inhibitory control, and shifting, respectively. Preadolescent children with greater CRF levels were associated with higher response accuracy during the 2-back task and shorter response time across congruent and incongruent conditions of the Flanker task, whereas older children showed generally superior cognitive performance. Notably, only the Old Group's CRF was positively correlated with the accuracy in the switching condition of the Local-Global task. These findings suggest that CRF or age was generally associated with better performances in working memory and inhibitory control aspects of executive function. Furthermore, the positive influence of CRF on shifting may be modulated by developed cortical maturation.

Greater childhood cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better top‐down cognitive control: A midfrontal theta oscillation study

“…In addition, our data revealed no association between fitness and mean RT. This finding, although contradictory with studies using field-based fitness assessments (e.g., PACER), which found a relationship between greater fitness and shorter mean RT across congruency trials (Scudder et al, 2014: Zhan et al, 2020, is in alignment with research employing gold-standard fitness assessments (i.e., VO 2peak ) and found a selective relationship of fitness with response accuracy (Berchicci et al, 2015;Pontifex et al, 2011;Raine et al, 2018;Wu et al, 2011). Moreover, our data on SDRT and CVRT indicated that higher fitness is associated with smaller response variability during congruent trials.…”

“…Of note, the current literature indicates a link between increased cardiorespiratory fitness and brain health in children, with a small to moderate relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness on inhibitory control at a cognitive/attention level (Berchicci et al., 2015; Raine et al., 2018; Scudder et al., 2014; Wu et al., 2011; Zhan et al, 2020). Inhibitory control refers to the cognitive ability to withhold an individual's attention to respond to irrelevant but prepotent information and stay focused on goal‐relevant information (Diamond, 2013).…”

The Combined Effects of Obesity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Are Associated with Response Inhibition: An ERP Study

“…Similarly, studies using laboratory-based and filed-based CRF assessments have indicated positive associations between CRF and task performance involving response inhibition in preadolescent children [ 15 ] and young adults [ 16 , 17 ]. Finally, similar positive links between CRF and working memory [ 11 , 18 ] and shifting [ 18 , 19 ] aspects of EF have been reported.…”

“…Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) may also affect various aspects of EF [ 11 , 12 ]. Cross-sectional research has revealed a positive relationship between CRF and the performance of the tasks involving interference aspect of inhibition in late-middle-aged [ 13 ] and older adults [ 14 ].…”

Analysis of cognitive abilities measured in a laboratory-controlled 360° simulation in soccer

“…The strategic planning and the organization of goal-directed behavior seem to be fully developed between the ages of 20 and 29 (De Luca et al, 2003). Zhan et al (2020) proved that children with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and children of a higher age are generally associated with advanced working memory inhibitory control and shifting aspects of executive functions. Older soccer players should outperform younger players with less developed prefrontal structures and less experience in perceiving relevant information.…”