BACKGROUND: Previous research has established that physical activity (PA) benefits executive function (EF) in children and adolescents. However, the dose response relationship between PA and EF remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PA on EF and to characterize dose-response relationships across PA modalities.
METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across five databases-PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library-to identify randomized controlled trials (up to April 2025) assessing the effects of PA on EF in children and adolescents. A dose response model-based network meta-analysis was utilized to synthesize the evidence and estimate the effects of different types and doses of PA on EF.
RESULTS: PA had a small but statistically significant positive effect on EF (Hedges' g = 0.14, 95 % CrI [0.08, 0.19]), with more pronounced effects in children than in adolescents, and effects varied across EF subdomains. Among the PA modalities examined, aerobic exercise demonstrated the most substantial effect (Hedges' g = 0.22, 95 % CrI [0.13, 0.32]), followed by skill/coordination activities (Hedges' g = 0.17, 95 % CrI [0.07, 0.26]). High-intensity interval training and cognitively engaging PA also showed promising results, although further data were required to clarify their impact.
CONCLUSION: PA exerted a positive influence on EF in children, exhibiting dose-dependent effects. In particular, aerobic exercise, and skill/coordination activities at moderate levels of intensity are efficacious, demonstrating a distinct inverted U-shaped dose-response relationship. These findings offer actionable evidence for designing targeted PA interventions to optimize cognitive benefits.
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