title: Acute exercise facilitates brain function and cognition in children who need it most: an ERP study of individual differences in inhibitory control capacity.
abstract: The present study examined the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on aspects of cognitive control in two groups of children categorized by higher- and lower-task performance. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were collected in 40 preadolescent children during a modified flanker task following 20 min of treadmill walking and seated rest on separate occasions. Participants were bifurcated into two groups based on task performance following the resting session. Findings revealed that following exercise, higher-performers maintained accuracy and exhibited no change in P3 amplitude compared to seated rest. Lower-performers demonstrated a differential effect, such that accuracy measures improved, and P3 amplitude increased following exercise. Lastly, both groups displayed smaller N2 amplitude and shorter P3 latency following exercise, suggesting an overall facilitation in response conflict and the speed of stimulus classification. The current findings replicate prior research reporting the beneficial influence of acute aerobic exercise on cognitive performance in children. However, children with lower inhibitory control capacity may benefit the most from single bouts of exercise. These data are among the first to demonstrate the differential effect of physical activity on individuals who vary in inhibitory control, and further support the role of aerobic exercise for brain health during development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois, 317 Louise Freer Hall, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: drollet1@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Drollette
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois, 317 Louise Freer Hall, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: mscudde2@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Scudder
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois, 317 Louise Freer Hall, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: lraine2@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Raine
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois, 317 Louise Freer Hall, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: rdmoore@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: R Davis
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois, 317 Louise Freer Hall, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: saliba1@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, 27P IM Sports Circle, 308W. Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824-1049, United States. Electronic address: pontifex@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pontifex
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois, 317 Louise Freer Hall, 906 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. Electronic address: chhillma@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hillman
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Executive function; Flanker; Higher-performers; Lower-performers; Physical activity