Isa T1, Sugimoto T1,2,3,4, Murata S1,2, Tsuboi Y1,2, Torizawa K1, Okumura M1, Matsuda N1, Kawaharada R1, Ono R1
1Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Department of Community Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan, 2Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, 3National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Center for Comprehensive Care and Research on Memory Disorders, Obu, Japan, 4National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Medical Genome Center, Obu, Japan
Background: Executive function (EF) rapidly develops throughout childhood and adolescence. Given that EF in childhood has been reported to be associated with social competence, psychological and physical health, and academic achievement and to predict their future criminal offending, subjective health, and socioeconomic status, development of EF in childhood has important implications to live prosperity and healthily throughout their life. Recently, several studies showed that exercise (e.g. aerobic exercise intervention) and aerobic fitness robustly improves EF. In this context, although recent studies suggested that specific movement skills involved Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) might be stronger predictor of EF than aerobic exercise and aerobic fitness, this association still has not been elucidated due to shortage of investigations.
Purpose: To examine the association of FMS (running, jumping and throwing skill) with EF (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) in more detail in children aged 9 to 12 years.
Methods: Two hundred and ninety-eight children aged 9 to 12 years who belong to public elementary school in Japan were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. Working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility were assessed by the Digits Backward Test from the Digit span test, the Color Word Test from the Stroop test, and the Trail Making Test part B, respectively. Running skill, jumping skill, and throwing skill were assessed by the 50-meter Sprint Running Test, the Standing Long Jump Test, and the Softball Throw for Distance Test, respectively. First, raw scores of EF and FMS were converted to grade-standardized z scores. Then, multiple linear regression analyses were performed in multivariate model. The dependent variable was each EF, and the independent variable was each FMS. Confounding variables were gender, body mass index, physical activity assessed by Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children, and time of game systems playing. All children were informed adequately about this study, according to the Declaration of Helsinki, before their participation.
Results: In multivariate model, running and jumping skill were significantly associated with working memory (running skill, β= −0.13; jumping skill, β= 0.17), inhibition (running skill, β= 0.17; jumping skill, β= 0.19), and cognitive flexibility (running skill, β= 0.20; jumping skill, β= −0.20), respectively. Throwing skill was significantly associated with inhibition and cognitive flexibility (inhibition, β= 0.22; cognitive flexibility, β= −0.26), but not with working memory (β= 0.06).
Conclusion(s): Our results showed that higher FMS was significantly associated with higher EF. Among three FMS, throwing skill, which is a more complex movement skill than running and jumping skill, was significantly associated with only inhibition and cognitive flexibility associated with front-cerebellar network in the brain. These results might indicate that FMS and EF depend on common neural circuits involved front-cerebellar network. To clarify this causal relationship, longitudinal studies will be needed in the future.
Implications: It is reported that children in some country have lower FMS during recent years. Therefore, our results may suggest the importance of FMS mastery during childhood for development of EF.
Keywords: Executive function, fundamental movement skills, children
Funding acknowledgements: Grant-in-Aid for Sasakawa Sports Foundation
Purpose: To examine the association of FMS (running, jumping and throwing skill) with EF (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) in more detail in children aged 9 to 12 years.
Methods: Two hundred and ninety-eight children aged 9 to 12 years who belong to public elementary school in Japan were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. Working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility were assessed by the Digits Backward Test from the Digit span test, the Color Word Test from the Stroop test, and the Trail Making Test part B, respectively. Running skill, jumping skill, and throwing skill were assessed by the 50-meter Sprint Running Test, the Standing Long Jump Test, and the Softball Throw for Distance Test, respectively. First, raw scores of EF and FMS were converted to grade-standardized z scores. Then, multiple linear regression analyses were performed in multivariate model. The dependent variable was each EF, and the independent variable was each FMS. Confounding variables were gender, body mass index, physical activity assessed by Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children, and time of game systems playing. All children were informed adequately about this study, according to the Declaration of Helsinki, before their participation.
Results: In multivariate model, running and jumping skill were significantly associated with working memory (running skill, β= −0.13; jumping skill, β= 0.17), inhibition (running skill, β= 0.17; jumping skill, β= 0.19), and cognitive flexibility (running skill, β= 0.20; jumping skill, β= −0.20), respectively. Throwing skill was significantly associated with inhibition and cognitive flexibility (inhibition, β= 0.22; cognitive flexibility, β= −0.26), but not with working memory (β= 0.06).
Conclusion(s): Our results showed that higher FMS was significantly associated with higher EF. Among three FMS, throwing skill, which is a more complex movement skill than running and jumping skill, was significantly associated with only inhibition and cognitive flexibility associated with front-cerebellar network in the brain. These results might indicate that FMS and EF depend on common neural circuits involved front-cerebellar network. To clarify this causal relationship, longitudinal studies will be needed in the future.
Implications: It is reported that children in some country have lower FMS during recent years. Therefore, our results may suggest the importance of FMS mastery during childhood for development of EF.
Keywords: Executive function, fundamental movement skills, children
Funding acknowledgements: Grant-in-Aid for Sasakawa Sports Foundation
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Paediatrics; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee of Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Ethics number: 545-2
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
