title: Does increased physical activity in school affect children's executive function and aerobic fitness?
abstract: This study seeks to explore whether increased PA in school affects children's executive function and aerobic fitness. The "Active school" study was a 10-month randomized controlled trial. The sample included 449 children (10-11 years old) in five intervention and four control schools. The weekly interventions were 2×45 minutes physically active academic lessons, 5×10 minutes physically active breaks, and 5×10 minutes physically active homework. Aerobic fitness was measured using a 10-minute interval running test. Executive function was tested using four cognitive tests (Stroop, verbal fluency, digit span, and Trail Making). A composite score for executive function was computed and used in analyses. Mixed ANCOVA repeated measures were performed to analyze changes in scores for aerobic fitness and executive function. Analysis showed a tendency for a time×group interaction on executive function, but the results were non-significant F(1, 344)=3.64, P=.057. There was no significant time×group interaction for aerobic fitness. Results indicate that increased physical activity in school might improve children's executive function, even without improvement in aerobic fitness, but a longer intervention period may be required to find significant effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Sport Science, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: S E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4342-448X
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kvalø
authors.affiliation: Norway Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bru
authors.affiliation: Center of Learning Environment, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brønnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Sport Science, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dyrstad
mesh_terms: D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012574:Schools
keywords: cognition; intervention; physically active academic lessons