Research has demonstrated that physical activity is beneficial for brain function and cognitive performance, and that inactivity is both physically and mentally detrimental. Understanding the effects of activity level on children is particularly important because childhood is a time of tremendous physical and mental development. Although less research has been done in this area on children, it is hypothesized that physical activity during childhood may have protective effects on brain health throughout one's life.
This study used a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of daily physical activity on the executive functioning of preadolescent children. Executive functioning includes the ability to maintain focus and resist distractions, the ability to mentally hold and manipulate information, and the ability to multitask. Participants in this study were eight to nine year old residents in East Central Illinois. The research team randomly assigned 221 children to either a nine month after school physical activity program, FITKids, or a control group. FITKids involves children in at least 60 minutes of physical activity that is at least 50% moderate to vigorous in intensity. Information is not readily available about what, if any, of the physical activity is conducted outdoors.
Both groups of children underwent the same series of pre and post tests, which included measures of fitness, electrical activity in the brain, and executive control. The research team found that, compared with the control group, participants in the intervention group (FITKids) had greater improvements in physical fitness, the ability to focus, and the ability to multitask. The researchers concluded that there is a causal effect between physical activity and executive control and that the results of this research provide support for the importance of ensuring that children receive the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day.
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