Document Detail


Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: a randomized, controlled trial.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21299297     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: This experiment tested the hypothesis that exercise would improve executive function.
DESIGN: Sedentary, overweight 7- to 11-year-old children (N = 171, 56% girls, 61% Black, M ± SD age = 9.3 ± 1.0 years, body mass index [BMI] = 26 ± 4.6 kg/m², BMI z-score = 2.1 ± 0.4) were randomized to 13 ± 1.6 weeks of an exercise program (20 or 40 min/day), or a control condition.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blinded, standardized psychological evaluations (Cognitive Assessment System and Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement III) assessed cognition and academic achievement. Functional MRI measured brain activity during executive function tasks. Results: Intent to treat analysis revealed dose-response benefits of exercise on executive function and mathematics achievement. Preliminary evidence of increased bilateral prefrontal cortex activity and reduced bilateral posterior parietal cortex activity attributable to exercise was also observed.
CONCLUSION: Consistent with results obtained in older adults, a specific improvement on executive function and brain activation changes attributable to exercise were observed. The cognitive and achievement results add evidence of dose-response and extend experimental evidence into childhood. This study provides information on an educational outcome. Besides its importance for maintaining weight and reducing health risks during a childhood obesity epidemic, physical activity may prove to be a simple, important method of enhancing aspects of children's mental functioning that are central to cognitive development. This information may persuade educators to implement vigorous physical activity.
Authors:
Catherine L Davis; Phillip D Tomporowski; Jennifer E McDowell; Benjamin P Austin; Patricia H Miller; Nathan E Yanasak; Jerry D Allison; Jack A Naglieri
Related Documents :
21347437 - The effects of voluntary, involuntary, and forced exercises on brain-derived neurotroph...
8503547 - Physiologic responses and distribution of aerosolized surfactant (survanta) in a nonuni...
1643937 - Erythropoietin response to acute hypoxemia in patients with chronic pulmonary disease.
6353077 - Tetracycline versus silver nitrate pleurodesis in spontaneous pneumothorax.
3555797 - Cardiovascular drugs and exercise interactions.
12562557 - Physiopathology of airway hyperresponsiveness.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association     Volume:  30     ISSN:  1930-7810     ISO Abbreviation:  Health Psychol     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-02-08     Completed Date:  2011-06-21     Revised Date:  2012-01-04    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8211523     Medline TA:  Health Psychol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  91-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).
Affiliation:
Georgia Prevention Institute, Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. cadavis@mcg.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Brain / metabolism*
Child
Cognition*
Executive Function / physiology*
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Overweight*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
DK60692/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS; DK70922/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS; R01 DK060692-01A1/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS; R01 DK070922-01/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
J Physiother. 2011;57(4):255   [PMID:  22093124 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The invisible benefits of exercise.
Next Document:  Systematic review of maintenance of behavior change following physical activity and dietary interven...