EFFECTS OF REGULAR EXERCISE ON COGNITION IN CHILDREN
Authors
Elton Spahiu, Altin Erindi
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Regular exercise has been demonstrated to improve children's physical and mental health in a variety of ways. However, there has been little study on the precise influence of exercise on reaction time, especially among children. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential effect of regular physical activity on intelligence and reaction time in children. The hypothesis was that engaging in regular physical activity would positively affect cognitive abilities and reaction time. A sample of 40 boys, aged 13-15 was recruited for the purpose of the study. Subjects were divided into two groups, 20 active boys who were part of a local team and 20 inactive boys selected from a local school. Participants were subjected to anthropometric measurements. effect of abstract is to summarise the available literature on the effects of regular exercise on children's response time. Participants were also subjected to an IQ Test consisting of 30 questions fitted for their age group, to measure their level of intelligence. While to gauge their ability to react in relation to time and space, subjects were subjected to an audio reaction time test (beep test) while exercising on a treadmill. The differences between the IQ test were in favour of those who didn’t participate in sports. The BMI had a strong relationship with physical activity. The relationship between IQ test and reaction time was not significant, however, physical activity affected reaction time positively in both groups. The results of the study did not reveal a significant correlation between regular physical activity and intelligence. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between physical activity and reaction time. Several factor might contribute to these results. Further research is warranted to explore potential indirect effects of physical activity on cognitive abilities, such as improvements in mood, attention, and overall well-being. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple factors when examining cognitive abilities in children and highlight the need for further research in this area.
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Authors
Elton Spahiu, Altin Erindi
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