Beyond the screen: Sports video game training can better enhance children's executive functions

Key Points

• Investigate the impact of sports video game training on children's executive functions and the roles of cognitive engagement and exercise intensity.
• Conducted two systematic experiments comparing integrated (sports video game) and combined (exercise + video game) training modes.
• Examined the effects on response inhibition and working memory refresh capabilities in children versus young adults.
• Sports video gaming significantly improved response inhibition and working memory refresh in children compared to exercise + video game training.
• Children showed greater cognitive benefits from sports video games than young adults due to higher neural plasticity.
• Cognitive engagement had a more significant and lasting effect on response inhibition than exercise intensity, while both positively impacted working memory.

Abstract