Exploring the effects of three different types of cognitively challenging physical activity games on students’ executive functions and situational interest in physical education

Acute enhancement of executive functions through cognitively challenging physical activity games in elementary physical education

“…However, when the waiting-list control group students received the experimental session with the cognitively challenging physical activity games in the second phase of the study, these positive effects on students’ executive functions were replicated. These results are consistent with recent evidence (Kolovelonis and Goudas, 2022) suggesting that the three types of cognitively challenging physical activity games were equally effective in enhancing students’ executive functions. The present study expanded this evidence showing that a combination of the three types of these games can also be effectively used in physical education.…”

“…All items were rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree). This scale has been adapted in the Greek language (Kolovelonis and Goudas, 2022) demonstrating sound psychometric properties including a good model fit of the sixth-factor solution, χ 2 (137) = 159.82, p = 0.088, χ 2 /df = 1.17, NNFI = .980, CFI = .984, RMSEA = .034 (90% CI: .000–.055). For this study, the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) for novelty (.94), instant enjoyment (.84), exploration intention (.81), attention demand (.72), challenge (.68), and total interest (.87) was satisfactory.…”

Elementary Students’ Perceptions of Cognitively Challenging Physical Activity Games in Physical Education

“…The present study was part of a larger project aiming to examine the effectiveness of using cognitively challenging physical activity games in elementary physical education. The project consisted of a series of acute experiments that involved students in a single physical education session including physical activity games [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Students who participated in those acute experiments completed additional measures after the end of the physical education session and reported their perceptions regarding the physical activity games they played during the physical education session.…”

“…Such conditions are included in the cognitively challenging physical activity games. Recently, [ 24 ] found that a single physical education session with cognitively challenging physical activity games had positive effects on experimental group students’ executive functions. The three different types of physical activity games involved in this study, which were each based on a different principle of mental engagement (contextual interference, mental control, or discovery), were equally effective in triggering students’ executive functions.…”

“…The three different types of physical activity games involved in this study, which were each based on a different principle of mental engagement (contextual interference, mental control, or discovery), were equally effective in triggering students’ executive functions. Similarly, students who were involved in a single physical education session with such games improved their scores in the executive functions more than students who were taught soccer or track and field skills [ 25 ] or students who were involved in traditional activities for enhancing their health-related fitness components [ 26 ]. Moreover, a four-week intervention in physical education involving cognitively challenging physical activity games had positive effects on students’ executive functions [ 27 ].…”