Effect of twelve-week aerobic exercise on inhibitory control abilities in overweight children / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of twelve-week aerobic exercise on inhibitory control abilities and the change of brain activation in overweight children. MethodsFrom October to December, 2021, 20 overweight children from a primary school in Changping District were selected for a twelve-week aerobic exercise intervention. Their inhibitory control abilities were measured by Flanker task before and after intervention, while their brain activation levels during the task were detected by functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). ResultsThe interactions between task type and time of accuracy and reaction time in inconsistent tasks Flanker task were significant (F > 9.277, P < 0.05), with higher accuracy and lower reaction time of after intervention (P < 0.05). After intervention, ch1, ch2, ch3, ch6, and ch8 channels were activated by inconsistent tasks (P < 0.05). ConclusionA twelve-week aerobic exercise intervention could improve the inhibitory control ability, and increase the prefrontal cortex activation during inconsistent tasks in overweight children.