Cited by 157Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchPhysical Activity and HealthAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 80 of the 80 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 57 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

A Meta-Analytic Review of the Efficacy of Physical Exercise Interventions on Cognition in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD

Open access
Tan, Beron W. Z., Pooley, Julie A., Speelman, Craig P.·2016·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Abstract

This review evaluates the efficacy of using physical exercise interventions on improving cognitive functions in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This review includes a meta-analysis based on a random-effects model of data reported in 22 studies with 579 participants aged 3-25 year old. The results revealed an overall small to medium effect of exercise on cognition, supporting the efficacy of exercise interventions in enhancing certain aspects of cognitive performance in individuals with ASD and/or ADHD. Specifically, similar to the general population literature, the cognitive benefits of exercise are not consistent across all aspects of cognitive functions (i.e., some areas are not improved). The clinical significance of the reported effect sizes is also considered.

Overview

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TL;DR

This meta-analysis of 22 studies (579 participants aged 3–25 with ASD and/or ADHD) found a small-to-medium overall effect of physical exercise on cognition, r = .235 (95% CI .131–.335). Effects were selective: larger for on-task/simple learning tasks than executive function tasks, with inhibition and memory showing significant benefits in ADHD.

Key findings

  • Overall random-effects mean effect size was r = .235, 95% CI [.131, .335], z = 4.347, p < .001; 22 studies, 579 participants (ADHD = 451; ASD = 128), based on 125 effect size values.
  • Cognitive task type significantly moderated effects, χ²(1) = 4.08, p = .04: on-task duration/simple learning tasks r = .526 (n = 5) vs EF tasks r = .180 (n = 17).
  • In ADHD, exercise significantly improved inhibition r = .174 and memory r = .286; set shifting was not significant (r = .184, p = .09). ASD studies mostly assessed on-task/simple learning (n = 5), with r = .526.
  • BESD indicated 61.75% of ASD/ADHD individuals improved overall; 76.30% for ASD on-task/learning, 59.05% for ADHD EF, 58.70% for ADHD inhibition, and 64.30% for ADHD memory.

Methods

  • Systematic search of PsychINFO, CINAHL, PubMED, Web of Science, and ERIC plus backward/forward searches; inclusion required diagnosis of ADHD or ASD, exercise intervention, objective cognitive performance, and quantitative studies published 1968–2015.
  • 22 articles included (16 ADHD, 6 ASD); effect sizes calculated as Glass’s delta then converted to r, with a random-effects model (Hedges & Vevea, 1998); one average effect size per article was entered.
  • Moderator analysis used multiple regression with categorical/continuous moderators; sensitivity analysis (Vevea & Woods, 2005) assessed publication bias; binomial effect size display (BESD) was calculated for practical interpretation.

Limitations

  • Paper states: only 22 studies were included, especially few ASD studies (6) and few EF studies; 5 studies (1 ASD, 4 ADHD) did not report non-significant results, indicating reporting bias; 18 studies did not report IQ and 12 did not quantify exercise intensity; results only support ages up to 25; EF tasks often used a single task and cannot isolate specific cognitive processes.
  • Paper states: sensitivity analysis under severe one-tailed selection bias reduced the overall effect from .235 to −.466 and the ADHD effect from .181 to −.452, while ASD changed little (.471 to .439), so confidence in effects may be lower.
  • Evident from the text: heterogeneity was low-to-medium (I² = 27.78%) and Q was non-significant, χ²(21) = 29.08, p = .11; many confidence intervals extended into negative values, and only 3 of 22 papers had confidence intervals entirely in the positive range.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s10803-016-2854-x

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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A gap exists in the literature regarding the exercise and cognition relationship in the ASD/ADHD and typical developing populations.

    “The present meta-analysis bridges the gap in the literature regarding the exercise and cognition relationship in the ASD/ADHD and typical developing populations.”
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Metadata

Authors
Tan, B. W. Z., Pooley, J. A., & Speelman, C. P.
Affiliations
Edith Cowan University (AU)
Corresponding author
Tan, Beron W. Z.
Venue
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Published
2016-07-13
Volume
46
Issue
9
Pages
3126-3143
ISSN
  • 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-3432
OpenAlex
W2461048406
Cited by
157
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1
FWCI
1.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Australasian Journal of Paramedicine (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Keywords
physical exercise intervention, cognitive function, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, exercise and cognition, children and adolescents, effect size
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Young Adult

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