Acute high‐intensity football games can improve children's inhibitory control and neurophysiological measures of attention

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that a single bout of exercise can lead to transient performance improvements in specific cognitive domains in children. However, more knowledge is needed to determine the key exercise characteristics for obtaining these effects and how they translate into real‐world settings. In the present study, we investigate how small‐sided football games of either high‐ or moderate‐intensity affect measures of inhibitory control in a school setting. Eighty‐one children (mean age 11.8, 48 boys) were randomly allocated to three groups performing 20‐minute of high‐intensity small‐sided real football games (SRF), moderate‐intensity small‐sided walking football games (SWF) or resting (RF). Behavioral measures of inhibitory control and neurophysiological measures of attention (P300 latency and amplitude) were obtained during a flanker task performed at baseline and 20 minutes following the intervention. Retention of declarative memory was assessed in a visual memory task 7 days after the intervention. Measures of inhibitory control improved more in children performing SRF compared to SWF 19 ms, 95% CI [7, 31 ms] (P = 0.041). This was paralleled by larger increases in P300 amplitudes at Fz in children performing SRF compared both to RF in congruent (3.54 μV, 95% CI [0.85, 6.23 μV], P = 0.039) and incongruent trials (5.56 μV, 95% CI [2.87, 8.25 μV], P < 0.001) and compared to SWF in incongruent trials (4.10 μV, 95% CI [1.41, 6.68 μV], P = 0.010). No effects were found in measures of declarative memory. Together this indicates that acute high‐intensity small‐sided football games can transiently improve measures of inhibitory control and neurophysiological correlates of attention. Intense small‐sided football games are easily implementable and can be employed by practitioners, for example, during breaks throughout the school day.

Effect of football activity and physical fitness on information processing, inhibitory control and working memory in adolescents

“…The present study also provides novel evidence regarding the effects of Football on subsequent cognitive function (particularly working memory) in adolescents, with only one previous studying investigating the acute effects of Football [ 24 ]. The majority of previous work in adolescents has used traditional forms of exercise; such as continuous running [ 6 , 7 , 19 , 20 ], walking [ 8 ] and cycling [ 9 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Football was chosen because it is high-intensity and intermittent in nature and thus replicates the activity patterns typically observed in this population [ 21 ]; as well as being an enjoyable and popular form of games-based activity for young people [ 46 ] and thus has ecological validity. A duration of 60 min was selected to advance on previous work examining the effects of 60 min of Basketball [ 16 ], whereas research utilising Football protocols is typically shorter in duration (20 min) [ 24 ]. An experienced Football coach delivered the sessions to groups of 10 participants, on outdoor facilities at the respective schools.…”

“…Positive effects of such acute school-based protocols have been demonstrated across a range of domains of cognition, including attention [ 13 , 15 , 20 ], working memory [ 16 ] and executive function [ 14 , 16 ]. Football is the most popular games-based exercise amongst adolescents [ 23 ], with only one study to date examining the acute effects of Football on subsequent cognitive function [ 24 ]. A brief (20 min) bout of high-intensity Football improved inhibitory control performance 20 min post-exercise, compared to walking Football and a resting control [ 24 ].…”

“…Football is the most popular games-based exercise amongst adolescents [ 23 ], with only one study to date examining the acute effects of Football on subsequent cognitive function [ 24 ]. A brief (20 min) bout of high-intensity Football improved inhibitory control performance 20 min post-exercise, compared to walking Football and a resting control [ 24 ]. However, it is unknown how acute Football affects other domains of cognitive function, such as working memory, as well as the duration of the transient improvements post-exercise.…”

The effects of physical activity on brain structure and neurophysiological functioning in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…All studies in healthy children showed physical activity-induced acute effects on neurophysiological functioning. Results indicated improved neurophysiological functioning during rest ( Mierau et al, 2014 ) and goal-directed behavior ( Chen et al, 2016 ; Mierau et al, 2014 ; Wollseiffen et al, 2018 ), greater allocation of attentional resources during task performance ( Chu et al, 2017 ; Hillman et al, 2009 ; Lind et al, 2019 ; St Louis Deschenes et al, 2015 ) and improved conflict processing ( Chu et al, 2017 ). Three of the seven studies reported accompanying beneficial effects on measures of cognitive performance ( Chen et al, 2016 ; Hillman et al, 2009 ; Lind et al, 2019 ) or academic functioning ( Hillman et al, 2009 ).…”