Neuromotor intervention on executive functions in early childhood: A randomized controlled trial of the BAPNE method.

Objectives. The study aimed to investigate the causal effect of a seven-month neuromotor intervention, the BAPNE method, on the core executive functions (EFs) of preschool-aged children, compared to a traditional music education program. Materials and Methods. A randomized controlled trial with a pre-test/post-test design was conducted with a sample of 82 four-year-old children (N=82; 41 in the experimental group, 41 in the active control group) in Caracas, Venezuela. The experimental group received the BAPNE intervention, while the control group underwent traditional music instruction. EFs were assessed through teacher ratings on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), with pre-test scores as a covariate to control for initial differences. Results. After controlling for baseline performance, the BAPNE group demonstrated statistically significant improvements, with large effect sizes, on all primary outcome measures compared to the control group. This includes the Inhibitory Self-Control Index (ISCI), the Flexibility Index (FI), the Emergent Metacognition Index (EMI), and the Global Executive Composite (GEC) (all p<.001). Conclusions. The findings provide strong evidence that the BAPNE method, grounded in the principles of neuromotricity and cognitive stimulation through dual-tasking, is a highly effective intervention for enhancing the expression of executive functions in the everyday context of early childhood.