A1 Journal article (refereed)
The effects of an exercise intervention on neuroelectric activity and executive function in children with overweight/obesity : The ActiveBrains randomized controlled trial (2024)
Mora‐Gonzalez, J., Esteban‐Cornejo, I., Solis‐Urra, P., Rodriguez‐Ayllon, M., Cadenas‐Sanchez, C., Hillman, C. H., Kramer, A. F., Catena, A., & Ortega, F. B. (2024). The effects of an exercise intervention on neuroelectric activity and executive function in children with overweight/obesity : The ActiveBrains randomized controlled trial. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 34(1), Article e14486. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14486
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Mora‐Gonzalez, Jose; Esteban‐Cornejo, Irene; Solis‐Urra, Patricio; Rodriguez‐Ayllon, María; Cadenas‐Sanchez, Cristina; Hillman, Charles H.; Kramer, Arthur F.; Catena, Andrés; Ortega, Francisco B.
Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
ISSN: 0905-7188
eISSN: 1600-0838
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 10/09/2023
Volume: 34
Issue number: 1
Article number: e14486
Publisher: Wiley
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14486
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/89523
Abstract
To investigate whether a 20-week aerobic and resistance exercise program induces changes in brain current density underlying working memory and inhibitory control in children with overweight/obesity.
Methods
A total of 67 children (10.00 ± 1.10 years) were randomized into an exercise or control group. Electroencephalography (EEG)-based current density (μA/mm2) was estimated using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) during a working memory task (Delayed non-matched-to-sample task, DNMS) and inhibitory control task (Modified flanker task, MFT). In DNMS, participants had to memorize four stimuli (Pokemons) and then select between two of them, one of which had not been previously shown. In MFT, participants had to indicate whether the centered cow (i.e., target) of five faced the right or left.
Results
The exercise group had significantly greater increases in brain activation in comparison with the control group during the encoding phase of DNMS, particularly during retention of second stimuli in temporal and frontal areas (peak t = from 3.4 to 3.8, cluster size [k] = from 11 to 39), during the retention of the third stimuli in frontal areas (peak t = from 3.7 to 3.9, k = from 15 to 26), and during the retention of the fourth stimuli in temporal and occipital areas (peak t = from 2.7 to 4.3, k = from 13 to 101). In MFT, the exercise group presented a lower current density change in the middle frontal gyrus (peak t = −4.1, k = 5). No significant change was observed between groups for behavioral performance (p ≥ 0.05).
Conclusion
A 20-week exercise program modulates brain activity which might provide a positive influence on working memory and inhibitory control in children with overweight/obesity.
Keywords: brain; brain research; cognition; cognitive processes; physical activity; overweight; children (age groups)
Free keywords: brain activity; brain function; cognitive function; cognitive performance; physical activity; youth
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2023
JUFO rating: 2
