The association between aerobic fitness and congruency sequence effects in preadolescent children.
Aerobic fitness has previously been related to cognitive control in preadolescents; however, these investigations have generally relied on global measures of performance. Thus, we have little understanding of how aerobic fitness may relate to trial-by-trial modulations in cognitive control. This study utilized congruency sequence effects (CSEs), which characterize how behavior on the current trial is influenced by the previous trial, to investigate the relation of aerobic fitness on varying levels of cognitive control. One hundred eighty-seven children completed tests of aerobic fitness and a flanker task. Regressions were performed to determine relationships between CSE sequences and aerobic fitness while controlling for other potential confounding factors (e.g., age, sex, IQ). Lower-fit children were less able to modulate cognitive control during sequences requiring relatively less cognitive control. Additionally, lower-fit children were less able to adjust for variable levels of cognitive control during relatively more difficult sequences. Lastly, lower-fit children had longer reaction times (RTs) for all sequences in the condition requiring greater amounts of cognitive control. These findings corroborate the importance of aerobic fitness for cognitive control in school-aged children, and extend the literature by demonstrating a relationship between fitness and trial-by-trial modulations in control demands.
Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.
Daniel R
DR
Westfall
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, United States.
Shih-Chun
SC
Kao
Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Mark R
MR
Scudder
Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
Matthew B
MB
Pontifex
Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: c.hillman@northeastern.edu.
Charles H
CH
Hillman
D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
Cognitive control; Inhibitory control; Physical activity; Trial-by-trial effects