Relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function of Chinese Tibetan adolescents aged 13–18

ObjectivesExplore the correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and execution function (EF) of Chinese Tibetan adolescents at high altitude (HA) areas.DesignA cross-sectional survey was used to study 1138 participants aged 13–18 (47.72% boys) at baseline.MethodsLhasa (3650 m), Nagqu (4500 m), Qamdo (3500 m), and Nyingchi (3100 m) in China were chosen. CRF was measured by the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and a subsequent estimation of their maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) was calculated using the Léger equations. The three core EFs (inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) were tested by a modified Eriksen flanker, N-back, and a more-odd shifting. The association between CRF and EF was explored by Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and stratified regression.ResultsThe reaction time (RT) of 1-back, cognitive flexibility with V̇O2max showed a declining trend, (F = 34.475, 27.498, P < 0.01). Interestingly, 2-back RT went up and then went down with V̇O2max. (F = 29.55, P < 0.01). After increasing V̇O2max as a variable, a stratified regression analysis with the RT for 1-back, 2-back, and cognitive flexibility showed that ΔR(Diamond, 20132.Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions Annu Rev Psychol 64, 135–68. http://doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750.Google Scholar) equaled 0.107 ms, 0.071 ms, and 0.091 ms, respectively (P < 0.01). With V̇O2max increased by 1 mL/kg/min, the RT of 1-back, 2-back, and cognitive flexibility shortened 14.697 ms, 15.689 ms, and 11.771 ms, respectively.ConclusionsCRF was positively associated with working memory, and cognitive flexibility development among Chinese Tibetan adolescents living at HA areas, respectively.