Alghamdi Rana Jamaan, Alotaibi Salem, Aljuhani Osama, Alkahtani Shaea
Department of Psychology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Exercise Physiology, College of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Front Psychol. 2025 Mar 26;16:1493206. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1493206. eCollection 2025.
The aim of the present study was investigating the associations between physical fitness and executive function tasks in children aged 10-13 years, with a particular focus on the contribution of physical fitness to working memory.
The findings reported significant correlations between the N-Back task (a measure of working memory) and all three physical fitness tasks: grip strength, long jump, and shuttle run. Additionally, the Flanker task (assessing selective attention) was correlated only with the shuttle run task. However, no significant correlation was found between the Stroop task (measuring inhibition control) and the physical fitness tests. Regression analyses further demonstrated that physical fitness tasks significantly contributed to working memory performance, independent of age and BMI.
These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating diverse physical activities in children's routines to support both physical and cognitive development, particularly in enhancing working memory, which is critical for academic achievement. From an educational and policy standpoint, integrating targeted fitness programs into school curricula may foster both physical health and cognitive development. Consequently, this study underscores the need for holistic approaches that combine physical and cognitive interventions, ultimately enhancing overall development and academic performance in schoolchildren. Hence, this study underscores the need for holistic educational interventions that integrate physical fitness with cognitive development.
本研究旨在调查10至13岁儿童的身体素质与执行功能任务之间的关联，特别关注身体素质对工作记忆的贡献。
研究结果表明，N-回溯任务（一种工作记忆测量方法）与所有三项身体素质任务（握力、跳远和往返跑）之间存在显著相关性。此外，侧翼任务（评估选择性注意力）仅与往返跑任务相关。然而，在斯特鲁普任务（测量抑制控制）与身体素质测试之间未发现显著相关性。回归分析进一步表明，身体素质任务对工作记忆表现有显著贡献，且不受年龄和体重指数的影响。
这些发现强调了将多样化体育活动纳入儿童日常活动的重要性，以支持身体和认知发展，特别是在增强工作记忆方面，这对学业成绩至关重要。从教育和政策角度来看，将有针对性的健身计划纳入学校课程可能会促进身体健康和认知发展。因此，本研究强调了采用结合身体和认知干预的整体方法的必要性，最终提高学童的整体发展和学业成绩。因此，本研究强调了将身体素质与认知发展相结合的整体教育干预措施的必要性。
