Effects of the Type of Sports Practice on the Executive Functions of Schoolchildren

Abstract

There is a close relationship between the development of complex motor skills and executive functions during childhood. This study aimed to analyze the differences in different dimensions of executive functions in children practicing an open-skill sport (handball) and a closed-skill sport (athletics) and controls who did not participate in sports activities after a 12-week intervention period. School-aged male and female subjects (n = 90; mean ± standard deviation = 11.45 ± 0.68 years) participated in a non-randomized controlled study. Data analysis was performed using the STATA V.15 statistical software. The athletics intervention promoted semantic fluency (p = 0.007), whereas handball increased inhibition (p = 0.034). Additionally, physical activity improved in both intervention groups (p = < 0.001), whereas sprint performance improved in the handball group following intervention (p = 0.008), lower body muscular power improved in athletics (p = 0.04), and evidence of improvement in upper body muscular strength was noted in handball (p = 0.037). In turn, an increase in the Physical Activity Questionnaire for older Children score showed an association with the Standard Ten scores of executive functions. In conclusion, compared to controls, both athletics and handball induced meaningful improvements in physical activity and executive functions. However, sport-specific adaptations were noted after athletics (i.e., semantic fluency and lower body muscular power) and handball (i.e., inhibition, sprint, and upper-body muscular strength).

Usability and Effects of a Combined Physical and Cognitive Intervention Based on Active Video Games for Preschool Children

“…An interesting finding in this study is that EFs were not significantly increased in the conventional physical activities group over the intervention period, which contradicts earlier research concluding that longitudinal physical activity programs improved EFs [ 56 , 57 ]. This finding may be related to the short intervention period of only four weeks in this study; conventional physical activities with less cognitive involvement would barely have a significant influence on EFs in such a short period.…”

Effects of Sport-Based Interventions on Executive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol

“…Executive functions are associated from an early age with physical activity [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] and, particularly, with the practice of sports [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Such a relationship has also been evidenced in older people, and associations have been reported between complex motor tasks and executive functioning [ 21 ].…”