Associations of Heart Rate Measures during Physical Education with Academic Performance and Executive Function in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Key result
Heart rate responses during physical education showed slight positive associations with academic performance (β range, 0.191-0.275; p<0.040) but unclear associations with executive function.
Why the study?
Evidence linking children's heart rate measures to academic performance and executive function is in its infancy, warranting research using objective measures of relative physical activity intensity.
Are heart rate measures during physical education associated with academic performance and executive function in children?
Population
130 schoolchildren between 9 and 13 years of age
Comparison
Heart rate response during physical education classes
Design
Cross-sectional study
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
Heart rate responses during PE were associated with academics; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice without longitudinal data.
Study Design
Type
Cross-Sectional (n=130)
Structured PICO
Are heart rate measures during physical education associated with academic performance and executive function in children?
P
Population
130 schoolchildren aged 9 to 13 years old participating in physical education classes.
E
Exposure
Heart rate monitoring during physical education classes using Polar Team hardware and software
O
Outcome
Academic performance (maths, Spanish language, Catalan language, physical education, and Grade point average) and executive function (cognitive flexibility and inhibition)surrogate
Main Result
Effect estimate: β range, 0.191 to 0.275
p-value: p=<0.040
Higher heart rate responses during physical education are slightly associated with better academic performance in children, though not clearly with executive function.
Limitations
- Lack of experimental design prevents disentangling the causal relationship with brain function during childhood
- Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference
- Need for future experimental studies testing associations between different bouts of intensity levels
Cite This Study
Muntaner‐Mas et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Schoolchildren (n=130). Heart rate response during physical education was evaluated on Academic performance (β range, 0.191 to 0.275, p=<0.040). Heart rate responses during physical education showed slight positive associations with academic performance (β range, 0.191-0.275; p<0.040) but unclear associations with executive function.