Factors influencing executive function by physical activity level among young adults: a near-infrared spectroscopy study.
Kensuke Matsuda, Shou Ikeda, Tsubasa Mitsutake and 4 others
PMID 28356633WHAT IT FOUND
Young adults with higher physical activity levels showed greater brain activation in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks.
Higher activity steps and IQ scores were significantly associated with better cognitive function, suggesting an active lifestyle may support executive function.
Key findings
01Participants with high physical activity levels demonstrated significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin changes in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during the Stroop test compared to those with low activity.
02Full-scale IQ and the number of steps per hour were the only factors significantly associated with cognitive function scores in the logistic regression analysis.
03The group with high cognitive function had significantly higher steps per hour and total energy expenditure than the low cognitive function group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study had a small sample size of 40 participants. The design is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that physical activity causes better cognitive function or brain activity; the relationship may be bidirectional or influenced by other factors. Participants were healthy young adults with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders, so results may not apply to clinical populations. The study did not account for the specific intensity or type of physical activity beyond step counts.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that increasing physical activity will directly improve executive function or brain activity in young adults. This is a cross-sectional study showing an association, not a causal link, and the sample was small and healthy.