Exercise of Varying Durations: No Acute Effects on Cognitive Performance in Adolescents

Abstract

Participation in structured physical activity is assumed to have a positive effect on cognitive and academic performance. A single bout of moderate to vigorous exercise has been found to have a small acute positive effect on the cognitive performance of children and adolescents. However, the dose-response effects of exercise duration are largely unknown. Therefore, the current study examined the acute effects of moderate-to-vigorous exercise with a duration of either 10, 20, or 30 min on selective attention and working memory performance of young adolescents. One hundred and nineteen adolescents (11–14 years old) participated in a randomized, controlled crossover study. Adolescents were assigned to one of the three exercise durations, each paired with a sedentary control session of the same duration. Cognitive performance was measured before and immediately after the exercise and control condition. The Attention Network Test and n-back task were used to measure selective attention and working memory, respectively. There were no significant exercise effects on selective attention (i.e., alerting, orienting, or executive control) or working memory performance measured immediately after the exercise bouts. Furthermore, there were no differential effects of exercise duration. In sum, acute exercise bouts with a duration of 10, 20, or 30 min did not improve, but neither deteriorate cognitive performance of young adolescents compared to a sedentary control condition.

Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive outcomes and academic performance in adolescents and young adults: A meta-analysis

“…In total 71 papers were eligible for this review and meta-analysis. Overall, 44 studies (Aguirre-Loaiza et al, 2019;Akatsuka et al, 2015;Basso et al, 2015;Benzing et al, 2016;Browne et al, 2016;Budde et al, 2010Budde et al, , 2008Chang & Etnier, 2009;Chang et al, 2011;Coles & Tomporowski, 2008;Cooper et al, 2016Cooper et al, , 2012ÉW et al, 2011;Guzmán & López-García, 2016;Hwang et al, 2016;Hwang & Lu, 2018;Jaffery et al, 2018;Lambourne, 2012;Lambourne et al, 2010;Mezcua-Hidalgo et al, 2019;Moore et al, 2012;Murray & Russoniello, 2012;Palmiere et al, 2018;Peruyero et al, 2017;Pontifex et al, 2009;Prashanth, 2020;Du Rietz et al, 2019;Schwarck et al, 2019;Sipavičienė et al, 2012;Sperlich et al, 2018;Takahashi et al, 2019;Tine, 2014;Tine & Butler, 2012;Tsai et al, 2014Tsai et al, , 2016Tsorbatzoudis et al, 1998;Tsukamoto et al, 2017;Van den Berg et al, 2018;Vonk et al, 2019;Wang et al, 201...…”

Active School Breaks and Students’ Attention: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

“…Eleven studies followed a parallel-groups design with seven RCTs [19,35,[41][42][43][44][45], three CRTs [24,46,47], and one non-randomized [48] (Table 2). Additionally, the remaining five studies followed a cross-over design (three single-group design studies [6,23,49] and two CRTs [50,51]) (Table 3).…”

“…However, other research has indicated that longer bouts (i.e., >20 min) showed greater effects [ 20 ]. Since other studies did not find differences regarding the duration of PA bout [ 25 ], this topic requires further research to investigate the optimal duration of ABs.…”

“…The inconsistent results presented in the literature could perhaps be explained by differences in the factors considered from a study design, how attention is measured, or the inclusion of samples representing different age groups [6] or cardiovascular fitness levels [6], just as happens in research on overall cognitive performance [2,12]. Moreover, in one study [24], it was suggested that different results on cognitive effects arise from differences in AB characteristics (e.g., cognitive engagement or complexity, intensity, duration).…”

Intense Cycling Exercise Improves Acute Cognitive Responses

“…These relations between exercise effects and task complexity may have important implications for individuals with attention deficits performing tasks requiring fast information processing [24]. Exercise duration is important to consider when looking at reaction tasks and attention [25], but interaction between intensity and duration is still unclear [26].…”