ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH20
Introduction Executive function (EF) is crucial for academic and life success in early childhood. While fundamental movement skills (FMS), physical activity (PA), and physical fitness (PF) are interrelated and support cognitive development, their complex pathways to EF remain unexplored. This study investigated the direct and indirect relationships between FMS, PA, PF, and EF in preschoolers. Methods This cross-sectional study included 720 Chinese preschoolers. FMS were assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development-3. PA was measured using accelerometers. PF was evaluated through cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, endurance, and speed-agility tests. EF was measured via computerized tasks, including the Animal Stroop task, the Stop-Signal task, and the Safari Training task. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the direct and indirect pathways, controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and body mass index. Results The SEM demonstrated adequate fit. FMS was strongly associated with PF (β= 0.92, p< 0.001) and PA (β= 0.36, p< 0.001). PA was positively associated with PF (β= 0.10, p< 0.001). PF was directly associated with EF (β= 0.62, p= 0.030), and the indirect pathway from FMS to EF through PF was significant (β= 0.57, p= 0.041). The direct paths from FMS to EF and PA to EF, and the indirect pathways involving PA, were not significant. Discussion The relationship between motor skills and EF in preschoolers is mediated by PF. This suggests that the neurophysiological adaptations from PF, driven by proficient FMS, are a primary mechanism to support cognitive development. Interventions aiming to enhance EF should focus on developing FMS and improving PF, rather than only increasing PA time.
Read CV Huiqi SongECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH20
Inhibitory control, an important domain of executive function, reflects the ability to suppress prepotent responses. Aerobic fitness and body composition are two modifiable factors that independently relate to inhibitory control, with prior research showing that greater aerobic fitness is related to enhanced inhibitory control in children and greater body fat is related to poorer inhibitory control. This study examined continuous measures of aerobic fitness and body composition as independent predictors of task performance and event-related brain potential (ERP) outcomes during a Go/NoGo task. 102 children (mean age: 10.07 ± .67) completed VO2peak assessments and DXA scans prior to performing a Go/NoGo task while ERPs were recorded. Inhibitory control measures of response accuracy, reaction time (RT), and standard deviation of RT (SDRT) were analyzed using linear regressions. Linear mixed-effects models were performed separately for fat-free aerobic fitness (FFVO2peak) and body composition (whole body fat percent) to examine their main and interaction effects on N2 and P3 amplitude and latency across the seven midline sites (Fz, FCz, Cz, CPz, Pz, POz, Oz). Greater aerobic fitness predicted superior NoGo accuracy (β = 0.27; 95% CI [0.07, 0.46], p = .008) and reduced SDRT (β = -0.22; 95% CI [-1.72, 0.08], p = .032) but was unrelated to Go task performance. Higher whole-body fat percentage predicted shorter NoGo RT (β = -0.20; 95% CI [-0.04, 0.002], p = .031) but was unrelated to accuracy or SDRT. During the Go task, a significant Fitness x Site interaction was revealed for N2 amplitude (F (6, 600) = 2.34, p = .030) and P3 amplitude (F (6, 600) = 2.91, p = .008), while body composition was associated with P3 latency (F (6, 600) = 2.17, p = .045). During NoGo trials, a Fitness x Site interaction was revealed for N2 amplitude (F (6, 600) = 2.30, p = .033), whereas body composition showed no associations with N2 or P3 components. These findings demonstrate dissociable, topographic effects between fat-free aerobic fitness and body composition on inhibitory control and its neural underpinnings. Higher fitness was associated with enhanced behavioral performance and larger N2 and P3 amplitudes, indicating greater neural resource allocation and cognitive control, whereas greater whole-body fat was selectively related to shorter RT and P3 latency, suggesting a distinct association with processing speed rather than neural recruitment related to inhibitory control. Findings suggest aerobic fitness is a modifiable factor associated with inhibitory control in children.
Read CV Kellyn JasonECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH20