SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2024
Effects of cognitively engaging physical activity interventions on executive function in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of different types of physical exercise interventions on aggressive behavior among children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of school-based physical activity programs on executive function development in children: a systematic review.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Game changer? Cognitive-motor effects of VR exergaming compared to video-based training.Annals of medicine · 2026Trial
- Touch Restriction Versus Free-Play Small-Sided Games in Soccer: Acute Effects on Serum BDNF, Executive Function, and Technical Actions.European journal of sport science · 2026Trial
- Effects of cognitively engaging physical activity on executive function, mental health, and physical fitness in school-age children: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.BMC psychology · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Effects of physically active lessons and active breaks on cognitive performance and health indicators in elementary school children: a cluster randomized trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Trial
- Effects of Dance and Rhythmic Physical Activity Interventions on Executive Function and Motor Competence in Children: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Beyond aerobic intensity: Comparing the effects of cognitively engaging gross-motor coordination training and aerobic exercise on working memory and selective attention in school-age children: A randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and School Engagement in Adolescents Attending Rural and Urban Schools in Southern Spain.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Effects of acute physical activity on interference control in children with and without ADHD: a crossover ERP study from the Break4Brain project.Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2026Article
- Acute Cognitive Effects of Brief Physical Activity Breaks After Lecture-Based Academic Activity in Undergraduate University Students: A Randomized Crossover Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Acute Effects of Adding Self-Control Tasks to the Daily Mile on Subsequent Cognition and Enjoyment in Children.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Changes in verbal fluency, anthropometric parameters, physical activity, and physical fitness following an after-school basketball program in children: a pilot study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Article
- Assessment of Static Balance with and Without Cognitive Dual Task in Children with Haemophilia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Article
- Associations Between 24 h Movement Behaviours and Cognitive Abilities in Slovak Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Effects of a 12-week mini-basketball exercise intervention on executive function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Effects of 6-week high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on classroom attention in children: a randomized controlled study.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Cross-sectional differences in inhibitory control between adolescent badminton trainees and age-matched non-athletes: a Flanker task study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the effects of cognitively engaging Physical Activity (PA) interventions on Executive Function (EF) in children and adolescents. It examines how different intervention modalities, durations, frequencies, and session lengths influence these effects. Methods: We followed the PRISMA guidelines and searched PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant studies. Studies were included if they were Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) focusing on PA with cognitive elements targeting EF in healthy children and adolescents. Data were extracted and effect sizes computed using Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs). Results: From an initial 1,635 articles, 23 studies with 2,857 participants were included. The overall effect of cognitively engaging PA on EF was significant (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.51), with notable improvements in inhibitory control (SMD = 0.35) and working memory (SMD = 0.34). High heterogeneity was observed ( Conclusion: Cognitively engaging PA interventions positively impact EF in children and adolescents, particularly in inhibitory control. Effective interventions are characterized by longer duration, higher frequency, and extended session lengths. These findings underscore the importance of integrating cognitive challenges within PA programs to enhance EF, warranting future research and practical applications in educational and developmental settings.
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Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.