Cited by 589Physical Activity and HealthNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesCardiovascular and exercise physiology

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Acute effects of moderate aerobic exercise on specific aspects of executive function in different age and fitness groups: A meta‐analysis

Ludyga, Sebastian, Gerber, Markus, Brand, Serge, Holsboer‐Trachsler, Edith, Pühse, Uwe·2016·Psychophysiology

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Abstract

Whereas a wealth of studies have investigated acute effects of moderate aerobic exercise on executive function, the roles of age, fitness, and the component of executive function in this relationship still remain unclear. Therefore, the present meta‐analysis investigates exercise‐induced benefits on specific aspects of executive function in different age and aerobic fitness subgroups. Based on data from 40 experimental studies, a small effect of aerobic exercise on time‐dependent measures (g = .35) and accuracy (g = .22) in executive function tasks was confirmed. The results further suggest that preadolescent children (g = .54) and older adults (g = .67) compared to other age groups benefit more from aerobic exercise when reaction time is considered as dependent variable. In contrast to age, aerobic fitness and the executive function component had no influence on the obtained effect sizes. Consequently, high aerobic fitness is no prerequisite for temporary improvements of the executive control system, and low‐ as well as high‐fit individuals seem to benefit from exercise in a similar way. However, a higher sensitivity of executive function to acute aerobic exercise was found in individuals undergoing developmental changes. Therefore, preadolescent children and older adults in particular might strategically use a single aerobic exercise session to prepare for a situation demanding high executive control.

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Additional file 4 of Acute effects of a motor coordination intervention on executive functions in kindergartners: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial
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Additional file 5 of Acute effects of a motor coordination intervention on executive functions in kindergartners: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial
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Additional file 3 of Acute effects of a motor coordination intervention on executive functions in kindergartners: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial
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Authors: Ludyga, S., Gerber, M., Brand, S., Holsboer‐Trachsler, E., & Pühse, U.
Affiliations: University of Basel (CH)
Corresponding author: Ludyga, Sebastian
ORCID: Ludyga, Sebastian
Gerber, Markus
Brand, Serge
Pühse, Uwe
Venue: Psychophysiology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-08-24
Volume: 53
Issue: 11
Pages: 1611-1626
ISSN: 0048-5772 (ISSN-L)
1469-8986
DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12736
OpenAlex: W2518187356
Semantic Scholar: c6cbe3b03cf7ae80284796b5af70690b72a4c36d
Cited by: 589
References: 118
Citations by year: 2026: 54 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 61 · 2023: 79 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 66 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 3
FWCI: 5.17
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
edoc (University of Basel) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords: acute aerobic exercise, executive function, cardiorespiratory fitness, age differences, preadolescents, older adults, reaction time, task accuracy, cognitive performance
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Child, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Fitness, Reaction Time, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Young Adult, Executive Function

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Acute effects of moderate aerobic exercise on specific aspects of executive function in different age and fitness groups: A meta‐analysis

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