Studies have found inconsistent results regarding the acute effects of physical activity on inhibitory control in children. More naturalistic studies that have real-world validity and use objective measures of physical activity are essential. This study investigated the acute effects of a pre-existing school-based group physical activity session on inhibitory control. Fifty-five primary school children (9 ± 1 years old, 40% female) participated in a pre-existing school-based group physical activity session and a sedentary poster-making control condition, both lasting approximately 30 min, in a randomised, cross-over manner. Cognitive tasks were completed before and after both conditions, and measures of performance on these tasks were used as dependent variables in all analyses. Time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during each condition was measured by accelerometry and used as a manipulation check. After physical activity there were faster reaction times (β = -176, 95%CI: -296.43, -59.51) and more commission errors (β = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.18, 1.95) in the simple reaction time task, but fewer commission errors (β = -4.64, 95%CI: -9.00 -0.28) in the inhibition task compared to the control condition. Using the same statistical approach, a supplementary analysis was run on a reduced sample of 32 (9 ± 1 years old, 44% female) whose adherence to conditions was confirmed by accelerometry. Results showed faster reaction times (β = -205, 95%CI: -384.58, -33.37) in the simple reaction time task and fewer commission errors (β = -6.10, 95%CI: -11.75, -0.45) in the inhibition task following physical activity. This suggests that an acute bout of physical activity facilitates inhibitory control in primary school children. Optimal effects are seen when participants achieved higher intensity physical activity during the intervention.
Watson et al. (Mon,) studied this question.