The Role of Executive Functions for Motor Performance in Preschool Children as Compared to Young Adults

Stuhr, Christina; Hughes, Charmayne; Stöckel, Tino

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01552

Cited by 20 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…Specifically, Stuhr et al (2020) found moderate to strong associations between working memory and three motor functions (strength, speed, and manual dexterity) in preschool children, but no significant associations between any measured cognitive and motor functions in young adults. Additionally, Stuhr et al (2020) reported that working memory explained unique portions of preschool children’s speed and manual dexterity. Furthering this line of research, van der Fels et al (2015) proposed that the connection between sensorimotor functions and EFs are stronger in childhood than in adolescence because of the changes in the developmental rate of these functions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…The similar protracted developmental timelines of specific sensorimotor functions and EFs suggest that there are interrelations between these functions. Findings from recent studies ( Roebers and Kauer, 2009 ; Weigelt et al, 2009 ; Stöckel and Hughes, 2016 ; Stöckel et al, 2017 ; Oberer et al, 2018 ; Stuhr et al, 2020 ), have indicated that sensorimotor functions and EFs are inherently intertwined. For example, Weigelt et al (2009) found a link between working memory and perceptual-motor performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it appears that the relations between these functions differ depending on developmental stage ( van der Fels et al, 2015 ; Stuhr et al, 2020 ), with stronger connections found in younger children than in adults. Specifically, Stuhr et al (2020) found moderate to strong associations between working memory and three motor functions (strength, speed, and manual dexterity) in preschool children, but no significant associations between any measured cognitive and motor functions in young adults. Additionally, Stuhr et al (2020) reported that working memory explained unique portions of preschool children’s speed and manual dexterity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To this end, 40 children (8–12 years old), 39 adolescents (13–17 years old), and 83 young adults (18–24 years old), all neurologically and physically healthy, performed a battery of sensorimotor and EF tasks that measure anticipatory motor planning (Grasp Height Task), proprioceptive acuity (Ipsilateral Joint Position Matching Task), eye hand coordination (Pursuit Rotor Task), planning and problem-solving (Tower of London Task), cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Task), working memory (Corsi Block-Tapping Task), and inhibitory control (Simon Task). Based on previous work, we expected that adults would outperform children on all measures ( Davol et al, 1965 ; Farrell Pagulayan et al, 2006 ; Luciana et al, 2009 ; Dajani and Uddin, 2015 ; Wunsch et al, 2016 ; Marini et al,2017a,b ; Stuhr et al, 2020 ). Additionally, we hypothesized that the associations between sensorimotor functions and EFs would be stronger in childhood than in adolescence and adulthood ( van der Fels et al, 2015 ; Stuhr et al, 2020 ) due to the crucial role that EFs play in sensorimotor performance during childhood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on previous work, we expected that adults would outperform children on all measures ( Davol et al, 1965 ; Farrell Pagulayan et al, 2006 ; Luciana et al, 2009 ; Dajani and Uddin, 2015 ; Wunsch et al, 2016 ; Marini et al,2017a,b ; Stuhr et al, 2020 ). Additionally, we hypothesized that the associations between sensorimotor functions and EFs would be stronger in childhood than in adolescence and adulthood ( van der Fels et al, 2015 ; Stuhr et al, 2020 ) due to the crucial role that EFs play in sensorimotor performance during childhood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developmental Differences in the Relationships Between Sensorimotor and Executive Functions

Gordon-Murer

Stöckel

Sera

et al. 2021

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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BackgroundThere is evidence that sensorimotor and executive functions are inherently intertwined, but that the relationship between these functions differ depending on an individual’s stage in development (e.g., childhood, adolescence, adulthood).ObjectiveIn this study, sensorimotor and executive function performance was examined in a group of children (n = 40; 8–12 years), adolescents (n = 39; 13–17 years), and young adults (n = 83; 18–24 years) to investigate maturation of these functions, and how the relationships between these functions differ between groups.ResultsAdults and adolescents outperformed children on all sensorimotor and executive functions. Adults and adolescents exhibited similar levels of executive functioning, but adults outperformed adolescents on two sensorimotor functioning measures (eye-hand coordination spatial precision and proprioceptive variability). Regression analysis demonstrated that executive functions contribute to children’s sensorimotor performance, but do not contribute to adolescent’s sensorimotor performance.ConclusionThese findings highlight the key role that developmental stage plays in the relationship between sensorimotor and executive functions. Specifically, executive functions appear to contribute to more successful sensorimotor function performance in childhood, but not during adolescence. It is likely that sensorimotor functions begin to develop independently from executive functions during adolescence, and therefore do not contribute to successful sensorimotor performance. The change in the relationship between sensorimotor and executive functions is important to take into consideration when developing sensorimotor and executive function interventions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developmental Differences in the Relationships Between Sensorimotor and Executive Functions

Gordon-Murer

Stöckel

Sera

et al. 2021

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Aerobic fitness and fine motor skills are related to switching and updating in typically developing children

Klupp

Grob

Möhring

2022

Psychological Research

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Movement is essential for everyday life and closely related to cognitive skills. The aim of the current research was to investigate whether different aspects of physical activity, i.e., aerobic fitness and motor skills, contribute above and beyond each other to the variance in children’s executive functioning. Children aged 8–13 years (N = 129, 58 females, Mage = 10.7 years, SDage = 1.6 years) participated in the current cross-sectional study. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER). Motor skills were assessed using the standardized Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd edition (M-ABC-2), including fine motor skills, balance skills, and object control. Components of executive functions (inhibition, switching, updating) were assessed using the following tasks: an animal Stroop task, a local–global task, and a 2n-back task. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to analyze the relative importance of aerobic fitness and motor skills for children’s executive functions. Results indicated that aerobic fitness and fine motor skills were significantly related to switching and updating, whereas relations to inhibition were non-significant. Furthermore, it was found that fine motor skills explained additional variance above aerobic fitness in switching and updating whereas aerobic fitness did not add additional variance above fine motor skills in switching and updating. Balance and object control skills were not related to the three core executive functions. Results support the notion that aerobic fitness and fine motor skills are differently related to executive functions and highlight the importance of considering multiple components of constructs in future research.

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Associations Between Motor Competence and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Bao,

Wade,

Leahy

et al. 2024

Sports Med

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Background Motor competence and executive functions co-develop throughout childhood and adolescence, and there is emerging evidence that improvements in motor competence may have cognitive benefits in these populations. There is a need to provide a quantitative synthesis of the cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental studies that have examined the association between motor competence and executive functions in school-aged youth. Objectives The primary aim of our systematic review was to synthesise evidence of the association between motor competence and executive functions in school-aged children and adolescents (5–18 years). Our secondary aim was to examine key moderators of this association. Methods We searched the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and EMBASE databases from inception up to 27 June 2023. We included cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental studies that assessed the association between motor competence (e.g., general motor competence, locomotor skills, object control skills and stability skills) and executive functions (e.g., general executive functions, inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility) in children and adolescents aged 5–18 years. Results In total, 12,117 records were screened for eligibility, and 44 studies were included. From the 44 included studies, we meta-analysed 37 studies with 251 effect sizes using a structural equation modelling approach in the statistical program R. We found a small positive association (r = 0.18, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13–0.22]) between motor competence and executive functions. The positive associations were observed in cross-sectional (r = 0.17, [95% CI 0.13–0.22]), longitudinal (r = 0.15, [95% CI 0.03–0.28]) and experimental studies (r = 0.25, [95% CI 0.01–0.45]). We also found that general motor competence (r = 0.25, [95% CI 0.18–0.33]), locomotor (r = 0.15, [95% CI 0.09–0.21]), object control (r = 0.14, [95% CI 0.08–0.20]) and stability (r = 0.14, [95% CI 0.08–0.20]) skills were associated with executive functions. We did not find any moderating effects for participants’ age on the associations between motor competence and executive functions. Conclusions Our findings suggest a small-to-moderate positive association between motor competence and executive functions in children and adolescents. The small number of experimental studies included in this review support the assertion that interventions targeting children’s motor competence may be a promising strategy to improve their executive functions; however, more research is needed to confirm these findings. Future studies should explore the underlying mechanisms linking motor competence and executive functions as their comprehension may be used to optimise future intervention design and delivery. PROSPERO Registration CRD42021285134.

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The Role of Executive Functions for Motor Performance in Preschool Children as Compared to Young Adults

Cited by 20 publications

References 78 publications

Developmental Differences in the Relationships Between Sensorimotor and Executive Functions

Developmental Differences in the Relationships Between Sensorimotor and Executive Functions

Aerobic fitness and fine motor skills are related to switching and updating in typically developing children

Associations Between Motor Competence and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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