Abstract
Different elements of physical fitness in children have shown a declining trend during the past few decades. Cardiorespiratory fitness and motor skills have been associated with cognition, but the magnitude of this association remains unknown. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness and motor skills with cognitive functions and academic performance in children up to 13 years of age. Cross-sectional studies suggest that children with higher cardiorespiratory fitness have more efficient cognitive processing at the neuroelectric level, as well as larger hippocampal and basal ganglia volumes, compared to children with lower cardiorespiratory fitness. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness has been associated with better inhibitory control in tasks requiring rigorous attention allocation. Better motor skills have been related to more efficient cognitive functions including inhibitory control and working memory. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness and better motor skills have also been associated with better academic performance. Furthermore, none of the studies on cardiorespiratory fitness have revealed independent associations with cognitive functions by controlling for motor skills. Studies concerning the relationship between motor skills and cognitive functions also did not consider cardiorespiratory fitness in the analyses. The results of this review suggest that high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and motor skills may be beneficial for cognitive development and academic performance but the evidence relies mainly on cross-sectional studies.
Highlights
Fewer than 20% of children meet the recommendations for health enhancing physical activity: at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, preferably on every day of the week (Verloigne et al, 2012)
The findings presented in this review suggest that both higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and better motor skills are linked to a higher cognitive capacity and a better academic performance
Only one study has assessed both cardiorespiratory fitness and motor skills, but they were used in separate analyses (Niederer et al, 2011); none of the studies examining this aspect controlled their analyses for cardiorespiratory fitness it is known that cardiorespiratory fitness is related to motor skills (Lubans et al, 2010)
Summary
Fewer than 20% of children meet the recommendations for health enhancing physical activity: at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, preferably on every day of the week (Verloigne et al, 2012). Evidence indicates a similar trend in mastery of fundamental motor skills (Hardy et al, 2011). Concerns have arisen as to whether todays lifestyle has a negative effect on childrens metabolic, cardiovascular, and brain health as it has on adults (Hillman et al, 2008). Physical activity has been found to be a foundation of development and reinforcement of motor skills (Riethmuller et al, 2009). Children with higher physical activity level have a higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness, the effect of physical exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness is smaller in children than in adults (Rowland, 2007). A higher level of physical activity has been related to better academic performance and executive functions in children and adolescents (Hillman et al, 2008). Executive function is an umbrella term for goal-oriented mental processes, which include planning, organising, behavioural inhibition, and working memory processes
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