ECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH13
Background: Previous studies have shown that high body mass index (BMI) is detrimental to executive function (EF) in children and elderly populations but may be improved by physical activity (PA). However, research on adolescents is lacking. This study examined the correlation between BMI and EF in adolescents and investigated the effects of moderate-to-high-intensity rope skipping (RS) training on EF in adolescents with varying BMIs. Methods: 166 adolescents aged 12–14 years were divided into normal weight, overweight three and obese groups according to BMI. 96 adolescents were assigned to the normal weight control and exercise group (NCG, n=23; NEG, n=23), the overweight control and exercise group (OVCG, n=13; OVEG, n=14), and the obese control and exercise group (OBCG, n=12; OBEG, n=11). Exercise program: moderate-to-high-intensity RS training. Control program: sedentary. Data were recorded for BMI and EF tasks. Results: The average reaction time (RT) of EF tasks in OVG, OBG exceeded NG about 14%, 24% respectively (P<0.05) in part one. After exercise intervention, the average BMI in OVEG and OBEG decreased about 10% and 11% (P<0.05). The average RT of EF tasks in NEG, OVEG and OBEG decreased about 9%, 14%, 13% respectively (P<0.05). Exercise groups have a significant difference with the control groups in the RT of EF tasks (P<0.05). Conclusions: The EF is weaker in overweight and obese adolescents than in normal weight adolescents. An 8-week moderate-to-high-intensity RS exercise program can improve EF in adolescents with different BMIs, and the improvement is greater in overweight and obese adolescents.
Read CV Lin ZhangECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH13
Purpose: Regular physical exercise may enhance cognitive functions, particularly inhibitory control, yet its effects in healthy but sedentary young adults remain understudied. This study examined how a structured 12-week cardiovascular exercise intervention influences behavioral and neuroelectric markers of inhibitory control in this population. Methods: Sedentary young adults were randomized into an exercise group (n = 32) or a passive control group (n = 30). The intervention consisted of 6 weeks of moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MCE) followed by 6 weeks of moderate- to high-intensity interval exercise (MHIE) on a cycling ergometer. Inhibitory control was assessed at baseline (pre-test), mid-intervention (mid-test), and post-intervention (post-test) using a modified flanker task with EEG recordings. Key outcomes included response time (RT) and event-related potentials (N2 and P3b components). Results: The exercise group showed progressive RT reductions in incongruent trials at all time points (pre-to-mid, mid-to-post, pre-to-post) without accuracy loss. The control group exhibited RT reductions only from pre- to post-test but with decreased accuracy. EEG data revealed that the exercise group demonstrated decreased N2 amplitudes and faster P3b latencies from mid- to post-test during incongruent trials, indicating improved neural efficiency. In contrast, the control group showed increased N2 amplitudes during congruent trials at pre-to-mid and pre-to-post assessments. Conclusions: A structured cardiovascular exercise program combining MCE and MHIE enhances both behavioral and neuroelectric markers of inhibitory control in sedentary young adults. These findings suggest that tailored exercise programs can serve as an effective, accessible strategy for improving cognitive function in populations at risk of sedentary-related cognitive decline.
Read CV Tomasz LigezaECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH13
INTRODUCTION: Neurocognitive deficits, especially inhibitory control processing, are common developmental challenges in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although previous studies have suggested that greater motor competence (MC) is associated with better inhibitory control on both behavioral and neuroelectric levels in children with ADHD, some limitations exist. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether higher MC is associated with improved neurocognitive development in children with ADHD, as indexed by behavioral and neuroelectric indices of inhibitory control in a well-designed study. METHODS: Sixty children with ADHD were divided into high MC (n = 30) and low MC (n = 30) groups, based on the median total composite scores from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Forty-four typically developing (TD) children were recruited as the healthy control. The Stroop task was administered to assess inhibitory control while electroencephalography was recorded to derive P3 component. RESULTS: The TD children group demonstrated higher accuracy rate (AR), shorter reaction time (RT), and greater P3 amplitude relative to the Low MC ADHD group. However, the TD children group had higher AR compared to the High MC ADHD group, with no significant differences in RT and P3 amplitude. Further, the High MC ADHD group demonstrated shorter RT and greater P3 amplitude regardless of congruency compared to the Low MC ADHD group while accounting for intelligence quotient and aerobic fitness. CONCLUSION: Superior MC in children with ADHD is associated with favorable neurocognitive development, as evidenced not only by the association of MC with enhanced inhibitory control performance and increased P3 amplitude but also by that such neurocognitive performance is comparable to those of TD children. These findings suggest that enhanced MC plays a role in mitigating typically developmental neurocognitive deficits associated with ADHD.
Read CV Ting Yu ChuehECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH13