Exercise and children's cognition: The role of exercise characteristics and a place for metacognition

Journal of Sport and Health Science

Volumn 4, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 47-55

  Tomporowski, Phillip D ^a   McCullick, Bryan ^a   Pendleton, Daniel M ^a   Pesce, Caterina ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA   (United States)

^b Italian University of Sport and Movement   (Italy)

Author keywords

Academic achievement; Child development; Executive function; Intelligence; Memory; Mental engagement

Indexed keywords

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; AEROBIC EXERCISE; ATTENTION; CHILD; CHILD BEHAVIOR; COGNITION; CREATIVITY; DECISION MAKING; EXECUTIVE FUNCTION; EXERCISE; EXERCISE INTENSITY; HUMAN; INTELLIGENCE; MEMORY; MENTAL FUNCTION; METACOGNITION; NERVE CELL NETWORK; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; PHYSICAL EDUCATION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PROBLEM SOLVING; REVIEW; SPORT; SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY; TREADMILL EXERCISE;

EID: 85010876758     PISSN: 20952546     EISSN: 22132961     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2014.09.003     Document Type: Review

References (81)

1. Garber C.E., Blissmer B., Deschenes M.R., Franklin B.A., Lamonte M.J., Lee I.M., et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011, 43:1334-1359.
2. Fedewa A.L., Ahn S. The effects of physical activity and physical fitness on children's achievement and cognitive outcomes: a meta-analysis. Res Q Exerc Sport 2011, 82:521-535.
3. Sibley B.A., Etnier J.L. The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: a meta-analysis. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2003, 15:243-256.
4. Tomporowski P.D., Davis C.L., Miller P.H., Naglieri J.A. Exercise and children'sintelligence, cognition, and academic achievement. Educ PsycholRev 2008, 20:111-131.
5. Tomporowski P.D., Naglieri J.A., Lambourne K. Exercise psychology and children's intelligence. Oxford handbook of exercise psychology 2012, 409-429. Oxford University Press, New York. E.O. Acevedo (Ed.).
6. Howie E.K., Pate R.R. Physical activity and academic achievement in children: a historical perspective. J Sport Health Sci 2012, 1:160-169.
7. Pesce C. An integrated approach to the effect of acute and chronic exercise on cognition: the linked role of individual and task constraints. Exercise and cognitive function 2009, 213-226. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, UK. T. McMorris, P.D. Tomporowski, M. Audiffren (Eds.).
8. Hertzog C., Kramer A.F., Wilson R.S., Lindenberger U. Enrichment effects on adult cognitive development. Psychol Sci Public Interest 2008, 9:1-65.
9. Pesce C. Shifting the focus from quantitative to qualitative exercise characteristics in exercise and cognition research. J Sport Exer Psy 2012, 34:766-786.
10. Mahatmya D., Lohman B.J., Matjasko J.L., Farb A.F. Engagement across developmental periods. Handbook of research on student engagement 2012, p.45-p.64. Springer, New York, NY. S.L. Christenson, A.L. Reschly, C. Wylie (Eds.).
11. Lezak M.D., Howieson D.B., Loring D.W. Neuropsychological assessment 2004, Oxford University Press, New York. 4th ed.
12. Yerkes R.M., Dodson J.D. The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit formation. J Compar Neur Psychol 1908, 18:459-482.
13. Gabbard C., Barton J. Effects of physical activity on mathematical computation among young children. J Psychol 1979, 103:287-288.
14. McNaughten D., Gabbard C. Physical exertion and the immediate mental performance of sixth-grade children. Percept Mot Skills 1993, 77(3 Pt 2):1155-1159.
15. Tine T., Butler A.G. Acute aerobic exercise impacts selective attention: an exceptional boost in lower-income children. Edu Psych An Int J Exper Edul Psychol 2012, 32:821-834.
16. Raviv S., Low M. Influences of physical activity on concentration among junior and high-school students. Percept Mot Skills 1990, 70:67-74.
17. Tomporowski P.D., Davis C.L., Lambourne K., Gregoski M., Tkacz J. Task switching in overweight children: effects of acute exercise and age. J Sport Exerc Psychol 2008, 30:497-511.
18. Ellemberg D., St-Louis-Deschênes M. The effect of acute physical exercise on cognitive function during development. Psychol Sport Exerc 2010, 11:122-126.
19. Hillman C.H., Pontifex M.B., Raine L.B., Castelli D., Hall E.E., Kramer A.F. The effect of acute treadmill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children. Neuroscience 2009, 159:1044-1054.
20. Hillman C.H., Snook E.M., Jerome G.J. Acute cardiovascular exercise and executive control function. Int J Psychophysiol 2003, 48:307-314.
21. Hillman C.H., Erickson K.I., Kramer A.F. Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci 2008, 9:58-65.
22. Chaddock L., Pontifex M.B., Hillman C.H., Kramer A.F. A review of the relation of aerobic fitness and physical activity to brain structure and function in children. J Int Neuropsychological Soc 2011, 17:975-985.
23. Tuckman B.W., Hinkle J.S. An experimental study of the physical and psychological effects of aerobic exercise on schoolchildren. Health Psychol 1986, 5:197-207.
24. Hinkle J.S., Tuckman B.W., Sampson J.P. The psychology, physiology, and the creativity of middle school aerobic exercises. Elem Sch Guidance Couns 1993, 28:133-145.
25. Ismail A.H. The effects of a well-organized physical education programme on intellectual performance. Res Phys Educ 1967, 1:31-38.
26. Davis C.L., Tomporowski P.D., McDowell J.E., Austin B.P., Miller P.H., Yanasak N.E., et al. Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: a randomized, controlled trial. Health Psychol 2011, 30:91-98.
27. Fisher A., Boyle J.M.E., Paton J.Y., Tomporowski P., Watson C., McColl J.H., et al. Effects of a physical education intervention on cognitive function in young children: randomized controlled study. BMC Pediatrics 2011, 11:97-106.
28. Sanders A.F. Toward a model of stress and human performance. Acta Psychol (Amst) 1983, 53:61-97.
29. Hockey G.R.J. Compensatory control in the regulation of human performance under stress and high workload: a cognitive-energetical framework. Biol Psychol 1997, 45:73-93.
30. Dishman R.K., Berthoud H.-R., Booth F.W., Cotman C.W., Edgerton V.R., Fleshner M.R., et al. Neurobiology of exercise. Obesity 2006, 14:345-356.
31. Budde H., Voelcker-Rehage C., Pietrassyk-Kendziorra S., Ribeiro P., Tidow G. Acute coordinative exercise improves attentional performance in adolescents. Neurosci Lett 2008, 441:219-223.
32. Pesce C., Crova C., Cereatti L., Casella R., Bellucci M. Physical activity and mental performance in preadolescents: effects of acute, exercise on free-recall memory. Ment Health Phy Act 2009, 2:16-22.
33. Best J.R. Exergaming immediately enhances children's executive function. Dev Psychol 2012, 48:1501-1510.
34. Lakes K.D., Hoyt W.T. Promoting self-regulation through school-based martial arts training. Appl Dev Psychol 2004, 25:283-302.
35. Castelli D.M., Hillman C.H., Hirsch J., Hirsch A., Drollette E. FIT Kids: time in target heart zone and cognitive performance. Prev Med 2011, 52:S55-S59.
36. Kamijo K., Pontifex M.B., O'Leary K.C., Scudder M.R., Wu C.T., Castelli D.M., et al. The effects of an afterschool physical activity program on working memory in preadolescent children. Dev Sci 2011, 1-13.
37. Chaddock-Heyman L., Erickson K.I., Voss M.W., Pontifex M.B., Castelli D.M., Hillman C.H., et al. The effects of physical activity on functional MRI activation associated with cognitive control in children: a randomized controlled intervention. Front Hum Neurosci 2013, 7:72. 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00072.
38. Crova C., Struzzolino I., Marchetti R., Masci I., Vannozzi G., Forte R., et al. Cognitively challenging physical activity benefits executive function in overweight children. J Sports Sci 2013, 32:201-211.
39. Chang Y.K., Tsai Y.J., Chen T.T. The impacts of coordinative exercise on executive function in kindergarten children: an ERP study. Exp Brain Res 2013, 225:187-196.
40. International Life Sciences Institute Childhood obesity-advancing prevention and treatment: an overview for health professionals 2003, International Life Science Institute, Washington, DC.
41. Hollar D., Messiah S.E., Lopeaz-Mitnik G., Hollar T.L., Almon M. Effect of a two-year obesity prevention intervention on percentile changes in body mass and academic performance in low-income elementary school children. Am J Public Health 2010, 100:646-653.
42. Donnelly J.E., Greene J.L., Gibson C.A., Smith B.K., Washburn R.A., Sullivan D.K., et al. Physical activity across the curriculum (PAAC): a randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity and diminish overweight and obesity in elementary school children. Prev Med 2009, 49:336-341.
43. ®: integrating physical activity with academic concepts in elementary school classrooms. Prev Med 2011, 52:S43-S50.
44. Mahar M.T., Murphy S.K., Rowe D.A., Golden J. Effects of a classroom-based program on physical activity and on-task behavior. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006, 38:2086-2094.
45. Erwin H.E., Fedewa A.L., Ahn S. Student academic performance outcomes of a classroom physical activity intervention: a pilot study. Int Electron J Health Educ 2012, 4:473-487.
46. Best J.R. Effects of physical activity on children's executive function: contributions of experimental research on aerobic exercise. Dev Rev 2010, 30:331-351.
47. Tomporowski P.D., McCullick B.A., Horvat M. The role of contextual interference and mental engagement on learning. Educational games: design, learning, and applications 2010, Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY. F. Edvardsen, H. Kulle (Eds.).
48. Pesce C., Crova C., Marchetti M., Struzzolino I., Masci I., Vannozzi G., et al. Searching for cognitively optimal challenge point in physical activity for children with typical and atypical motor development. Ment Health Phys Activity 2013, 6:172-180.
49. Kriemler S., Meyer U., Martin E., van Sluijs E.M.F., Andersen L.B., Martin B.W. Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity in children and adolescents: a review of reviews and systematic update. Br J Sports Med 2011, 45:923-930.
50. Bransford J., Brown A.L., Cocking R.R. How people learn: brain, mind, experience, and school 1999, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
51. Borkowski J.H., Burke J.E. Theories, models, and measurements of executive functioning: an information processing perspective. Attention, memory, and executive function 1996, 235-261. Paul H. Brooks Publishing Co, Baltimore, MD. G.R. Lyon, N.A. Krasnegor (Eds.).
52. Dietrich A., Kanso R. A review of EEG, ERP, and neuroimaging studies of creativity and insight. Psychol Bull 2010, 136:822-848.
53. Scibinetti P., Tocci N., Pesce C. Motor creativity and creative thinking inchildren: the divergent role of inhibition. Creativity Res J 2011, 23:262-272.
54. Lakes K.D., Bryars T., Sirisinahal S., Salim N., Arastoo S., Emmerson N., et al. The healthy for life taekwondo pilot study: a preliminary evaluation of effects on executive function and BMI, feasibility, and acceptability. Ment Health Phy Act 2013, 6:181-188.
55. Memmert D. Creativity, expertise, and attention: exploring their development and their relationships. J Sports Sci 2011, 29:93-102.
56. Memmert D., Baker J., Bertsch C. Play and practice in the development ofsport-specific creativity in team ball sports. High Ability Stud 2010, 21:3-18.
57. Goudas M. Prologue: a review of life skills in sport and physical education. Hellenic J Psychol 2010, 7:241-258.
58. Voss M.W., Kramer A.F., Basak C., Prakash R., Roberts B.L. Are expert athletes 'expert' in the cognitive laboratory? A meta-analytic review of cognition and sport expertise. App Cogn Psychol 2009, 24:812-826.
59. Handbook of research on student engagement 2012, Springer, New York, NY. S.L. Christenson, A.L. Reschly, C. Wylie (Eds.).
60. Fairclough S.J., Mulder L.J.M. Psychophysiological processes of mental effort investment. How motivation affects cardiovascular response 2012, 61-76. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. R.A. Wright, G.H.E. Gendolla (Eds.).
61. Kahneman D. Attention and effort 1973, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
62. Sanders A.F. Elements of human performance 1998, Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ.
63. Hockey G.R.J. Energetical-control processes in the regulation of human performance. Processes of the molar regulation of behavior 1996, p.271-p.287. Pabst Science Publishers, Lengerich, Berlin. W. Battemann, S. Duke (Eds.).
64. Posner M.I., Rothbart M.K. Educating the human brain 2007, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.
65. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: the exercise of control 1997, Freeman, New York.
66. Hodge K., Danish S.J., Martin J. Developing a conceptual framework for life skills interventions. The Counsel Psycholog 2012, 41:1125-1152.
67. Prochaska J.O., DiClemente C.C. Transtheoretical therapy: toward a more integrative model of change. Psychother Theory Res Pract 1983, 20:161-173.
68. Sallis J.F., Owen N., Fisher E.B. Ecological models of health behavior. Health behavior and health education: theory, research, and practice 2008, 465-486. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA. K. Glanz, B.K. Rimer, P. Viswanath (Eds.).
69. Etnier J.L., Chang Y.K. The effect of physical activity on executive function: a brief commentary on definitions, measurement issues, and the current state of the literature. J Sport Exer Psy 2009, 31:469-483.
70. Thorndike E.L. Educational psychology: briefer course 1914, Columbia University Press, New York.
71. Furley P., Memmert D. Studying cognitive adaptations in the field of sport: broad or narrow transfer? A comment on Allen, Fioratou, & McGeorge. Percept Mot Skills 2011, 113:481-488.
72. Ericsson K.A. The acquisition of expert performance: an introduction to some of the issues. The road to excellence 1996, 1-50. Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ. K.A. Ericsson (Ed.).
73. Diamond A. Executive functions. Annu Rev Psychol 2013, 64:135-168.
74. Malina R.M., Bouchard C., Bar-Or O. Growth, maturation, and physical activity 2004, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. 2nd ed.
75. Churchill J.D., Galvez R., Colcombe S., Swain R.A., Kramer A.F., Greenough W.T. Exercise, experience and the aging brain. Neurobiol Aging 2002, 23:941-955.
76. Gomez-Pinilla F., Hillman C.H. The influence of exercise on cognitive abilities. Compr Physiol 2013, 3:403-428.
77. Booth J.N., Tomporowski P.D., Boyle J.M.E., Ness A.R., Joinson C.J., Leary S.D., et al. Associations between executive attention and objectively measured physical activity in adolescence: findings from ALSPAC, a UK cohort. Ment Health Phys Activity 2013, 6:212-219.
78. Roberts C.K., Freed B., McCarthy W.J. Low aerobic fitness and obesity are associated with lower standardized test scores in children. J Pediatr 2010, 156:711-718.
79. Niederer I., Kriemler S., Gut J., Hartmann T., Schindler C., Barral J., et al. Relationship of aerobic fitness and motor skills with memory and attention in preschoolers (Ballabeina): a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. BMC Pediatrics 2011, 11:34. 10.1186/1471-2431-11-34.
80. Roebers C.M., Röthlisberger M., Neuenschwander R., Cimeli P., Michel E., Jäger K. The relation between cognitive and motor performance and their relevance for children's transition to school: a latent variable approach. Hum Mov Sci 2014, 33:284-297.
81. Tomporowski P.D., Lambourne K., Okumura M.S. Physical activity interventions and children's mental function: an introduction and overview. Prev Med 2011, 52:S3-S9.