title: Acute effects of moderate aerobic exercise on specific aspects of executive function in different age and fitness groups: A meta-analysis.
abstract: Whereas a wealth of studies have investigated acute effects of moderate aerobic exercise on executive function, the roles of age, fitness, and the component of executive function in this relationship still remain unclear. Therefore, the present meta-analysis investigates exercise-induced benefits on specific aspects of executive function in different age and aerobic fitness subgroups. Based on data from 40 experimental studies, a small effect of aerobic exercise on time-dependent measures (g = .35) and accuracy (g = .22) in executive function tasks was confirmed. The results further suggest that preadolescent children (g = .54) and older adults (g = .67) compared to other age groups benefit more from aerobic exercise when reaction time is considered as dependent variable. In contrast to age, aerobic fitness and the executive function component had no influence on the obtained effect sizes. Consequently, high aerobic fitness is no prerequisite for temporary improvements of the executive control system, and low- as well as high-fit individuals seem to benefit from exercise in a similar way. However, a higher sensitivity of executive function to acute aerobic exercise was found in individuals undergoing developmental changes. Therefore, preadolescent children and older adults in particular might strategically use a single aerobic exercise session to prepare for a situation demanding high executive control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. sebastian.ludyga@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ludyga
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holsboer-Trachsler
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pühse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain plasticity; Cognitive performance; Inhibitory control; Physical activity; Structured review