Examining the relationship between adolescent health behaviors, brain health, and academic achievement using fNIRS

Abstract

Background: Several adolescent health behaviors have been hypothesized to improve academic performance via their beneficial impact on cognitive control and functional aspects of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Specifically, exercise, restorative sleep, and proper diet are thought to improve PFC function, while substance abuse is thought to reduce it. Few studies have examined the relationships among all of these in the same sample, while quantifying downstream impacts on academic performance. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to examine the association between lifestyle behaviors and academic performance in a sample of adolescents, and to examine the extent to which activity within the PFC and behavioural indices of inhibition may mediate this relationship. Methods: Sixty-seven adolescents underwent two study sessions five days apart. Sleep and physical activity were measured using wrist-mounted accelerometry; eating habits, substance use and academic achievement were measured by self-report. Prefrontal function was quantified by performance on the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT), and task-related brain activity via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results: Higher levels of accelerometer-assessed physical activity predicted higher MSIT accuracy scores (β= .321, ρ= 0.019) as well as greater task-related increases in activation within the right dlPFC (β=.008, SE= .004, ρ =.0322). Frequency of fast-food consumption and substance use were both negatively associated with MSIT accuracy scores (β= -.307, ρ= .023) and Math grades (𝛽= -3.702, 𝑆𝐸= 1.563, ρ= .022) respectively. However, these effects were not mediated by indicators of PFC function. Conclusion: Physical activity and eating behaviors predicted better interference task performance in adolescents, with the former mediated by greater task-related increases in right dlPFC activation. Substance use predicted worse Math grades, however, no other reliable effects of health behaviors on academic outcomes were evident.

An examination of the prospective association between physical activity and academic achievement in youth at the population level

“…Previous literature has hypothesized a positive relationship between the two variables as it is thought that the brain health benefits observed from exercise could contribute to increased academic achievement, as regions associated with the observed “brain benefits” of exercise are also important for academic attainment [ 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 21 ]. These findings are corroborated by a recent analysis on this topic using COMPASS data 2015/16 and 2016/17 waves and categorical measures of achievement, which found trivial effects of meeting the physical activity guidelines [ 29 ] and by a recent investigation that found evidence of a brain health benefit from accelerometer-assessed physical activity, but no significant associations between physical activity and academic achievement outcomes [ 20 ]. Previous experimental studies have found positive effects of exercise on achievement test performance [ 8 , 42 ], and so there is an opportunity for future experimental research into the brain-benefit vs. time-competition hypotheses.…”

“…Recent studies have supported the hypothesis that physical activity supports brain health. In a sample of adolescents, accelerometer-assessed physical activity predicted improved interference task achievement, in addition to enhanced task-related adaptive response in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when indexed by functional near infrared spectroscopy [ 20 ]. However, no predictive effect was found in terms of physical activity and self-reported Math grades, and a slight negative but non-significant association was present between active minutes and English grades [ 20 ].…”

“…In a sample of adolescents, accelerometer-assessed physical activity predicted improved interference task achievement, in addition to enhanced task-related adaptive response in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when indexed by functional near infrared spectroscopy [ 20 ]. However, no predictive effect was found in terms of physical activity and self-reported Math grades, and a slight negative but non-significant association was present between active minutes and English grades [ 20 ]. These findings suggest that physical activity may have some cognitive benefit, but that the brain benefits of physical activity may not fully translate into improved achievement, potentially due to the time competition between academics and physical activity programs.…”

Investigating Cortical Buffering Effects of Acute Moderate Intensity Exercise: A cTBS Study Targeting the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

“…Across the lifespan, executive functions are a robust predictor of several psychosocial, intellectual, and health-related outcomes, including academic performance, adherence to health protective behaviors, and substance use and abuse ( Romer et al, 2009 ; Moffitt et al, 2011 ; Kim and Lee, 2011 ; Papsideris et al, 2020 ). Indeed, the consistent implementation of everyday behaviors, such as dietary self-regulation, medication adherence, and academic performance ( Insel et al, 2006 ; Diamond, 2013 ; Lowe et al, 2018a ), are typically thought to be dependent on executive functions, and by extension the underlying cortical substrates (i.e., the prefrontal cortex).…”