How physical activity, fitness, and motor skills contribute to math performance: Working memory as a mediating factor

Syväoja, Heidi; Kankaanpää, Anna; Hakonen, Harto; Inkinen, Virpi; Kulmala, Janne; Joensuu, Laura; Räsänen, Pekka; Hillman, Charles H.; Tammelin, Tuija

doi:10.1111/sms.14049

Cited by 24 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…However, in men, LT was not related to the type of exercise. Several studies are currently looking at associations between PA and cognitive functions [ 4 , 5 , 8 , 12 , 16 , 36 , 37 , 38 ] or learning achievements [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. To determine the effectiveness of intuitive thinking and LT, we selected the CRT [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Types of Exercise Are Best for Emotional Intelligence and Logical Thinking?

Skurvydas

Lisinskienė

Majauskienė

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The aim of our study was to determine whether EI and LT vs. intuitive thinking (CRT score) are related to participation in professional sports, independent exercise, and exercise at a gym/health center compared with no exercise. We selected 20 of the most popular types of exercise in Lithuania among respondents who exercise independently or at a gym/health center, and we ranked these types of exercise according to the participants’ emotional intelligence and logical thinking. We studied 4545 women and 1824 men aged 18–74 years with a focus on whether emotional intelligence and logical thinking are related to type of exercise. Participation in any exercise was significantly related to emotional intelligence in men and women. Women in professional sports solved the lowest number of logic tasks. Women who exercise independently or at a gym/health center had better logical thinking than those who do not exercise. Among men, logical thinking was not associated with the type of exercise. We found the tendency for a negative correlation between EI and LT in the 20 most popular types of exercise. Emotional intelligence correlated positively with participation in MVPA. The highest emotional intelligence was in women who participate in dance or Pilates and in men who participate in martial arts, wrestling, boxing, or yoga. Logical thinking was the highest in men who participate in triathlon and in women who perform CrossFit. Men who practice martial arts or track and field and women who participate in cycling were in the top five for emotional intelligence and logical thinking.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Types of Exercise Are Best for Emotional Intelligence and Logical Thinking?

Skurvydas

Lisinskienė

Majauskienė

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…However, the current study adds value to the existing literature by analysing the indirect association included in the same model of two different mediators not previously explored, the physical fitness and executive function. To date, and to the best of our knowledge, only a few studies have assessed the mediating effects of executive functions with mixed results [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 53 ]. Amongst those, the only PA intervention study included 1129 10-year-old children and followed them for over 7 months.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Physical Fitness and Executive Function Mediate the Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Achievement? An Examination Using Structural Equation Modelling

et al. 2022

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Background: Physical activity health benefits are widely known. However, the association between physical activity, physical fitness, executive function, and academic performance need further investigation. Additionally, one of the literature gaps reveals scarce and mixed findings on what mediators of physical activity may affect academic achievement. Purpose: This investigation aims to provide knowledge about the mediation role of physical fitness and executive function in the association of physical activity with academic achievement in a cohort of Spanish schoolchildren using a structural equation modelling approach. Methods: The data for this cross-sectional study were collected from a convenience sample of children from Spain (Balearic Islands) aged between 9 and 13 years. Physical activity levels were self-reported with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children; physical fitness was assessed using the International Fitness Scale; executive function was assessed with the Trail Making Test, and children’s achievements were collected from the school records. Structural equation modelling was used to explore the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, executive function, and academic achievement. Findings: Statistically significant positive direct associations were observed between physical activity and physical fitness (β = 0.46, 95% CI [0.29, 0.64]), physical fitness and executive function (β = 0.28, 95% CI [0.04, 0.52]), and executive function and academic achievement (β = 0.46, 95% CI [0.28, 0.65]), while adjusting for the confounding effects of sex and body mass index. Furthermore, indirect associations were observed between physical activity and executive function mediated by physical fitness (β = 0.13, bias-corrected 95% CI [0.02, 0.31]) and between physical fitness and academic achievement through executive function (β = 0.13, bias-corrected 95% CI [0.03, 0.32]). Conclusions: This investigation adds to the literature with evidence supporting the idea that regular PA leads to improvements in physical fitness and may support cognitive skills and academic performance in children.

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“…Visuospatial attention capacity is strongly associated with individual differences in real-world tasks 10 and sports performance. 11 Guo et al 12 suggested that sports training can enable athletes to develop efficient neural networks that engage in vi-suospatial tasks. Aerobic exercise decreases resting-state cerebral blood flow and increases cerebrovascular reactivity in response to performance tasks.…”

Section: Attention Exercise and O 2 Consumption In The Brainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Visuospatial attention capacity is strongly associated with individual differences in real-world tasks [ 10 ] and sports performance [ 11 ]. Guo et al [ 12 ] suggested that sports training can enable athletes to develop efficient neural networks that engage in visuospatial tasks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Functional Connectivity Between Default Mode Network and Attention Network in Response to Changes in Aerobic Exercise Intensity

Ko¹,

Kim²,

Kang³

et al. 2023

Psychiatry Investig

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Objective Aerobic exercise may be associated with changes in brain activity within the default mode network (DMN) and dorsal attention network (DAN). We hypothesized that changes in functional connectivity (FC) within the DMN and DAN might be most effectively activated by moderate-intensity exercise.Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans and visuospatial attention tests after resting were performed before and after each of moderate- and high-intensity aerobic exercises (10 min each) in 15 healthy male volunteers.Results The reaction time during the attention test increased significantly, and the rate of correct responses decreased from moderate-intensity exercise condition to high-intensity exercise condition. FC within the DMN under high-intensity exercise condition was higher than that under pre-exercise and moderate-intensity exercise conditions. FC within the DAN under moderate-intensity exercise condition was the highest, whereas FC between the DMN and DAN under moderate-intensity exercise condition was the lowest. Changes in cognitive domain functions were associated with changes in FC between the DMN and DAN.Conclusion Our results support the inverted-U hypothesis of maximum arousal efficacy during moderate exercise. Both cognitive domains, namely, the attention system and brain activity domains, may be better under moderate-intensity exercise than under high-intensity exercise.

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How physical activity, fitness, and motor skills contribute to math performance: Working memory as a mediating factor

Cited by 24 publications

References 42 publications

What Types of Exercise Are Best for Emotional Intelligence and Logical Thinking?

What Types of Exercise Are Best for Emotional Intelligence and Logical Thinking?

Do Physical Fitness and Executive Function Mediate the Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Achievement? An Examination Using Structural Equation Modelling

Changes in Functional Connectivity Between Default Mode Network and Attention Network in Response to Changes in Aerobic Exercise Intensity

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