SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2025
Effects of different long-term exercise interventions on working memory in children and adolescents: a network meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of exercise intervention on executive function in college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Hidden in plain sight: verbal declarative memory effects of exercise are eight times larger than aggregate estimates suggest.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Article
- Long-term mind-body exercise enhances cognitive control over working memory-driven attentional capture.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objectives: To compare the relative efficacy of different exercise modalities on working memory accuracy and reaction time in healthy children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (CRD420251005303). PubMed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched from inception to March 1, 2025. Randomized controlled trials examining the impact of any exercise intervention (e.g., aerobic exercise, dance, high-intensity interval training, sports games, mixed exercise) versus control on working memory accuracy and/or reaction time were eligible. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and a random-effects model was applied to account for between-study heterogeneity. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to determine the relative ranking of each modality. Results: Thirty-three studies met inclusion criteria for working memory accuracy, and eight studies contributed data on reaction time. Dance demonstrated the highest SUCRA ranking for accuracy (87.8%), and was significantly superior to control (SMD = 0.67, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.21). Aerobic exercise ranked first for reaction time (93.6%), outperforming control (SMD = -0.40, 95% CI -0.69 to -0.11 for accuracy; SMD = -0.82, 95% CI -1.26 to -0.38 for reaction time compared with mixed exercise). Mixed exercise consistently showed lower rankings for both outcomes. Conclusion: Distinct exercise modalities differentially affect working memory components in young populations. Dance and aerobic exercise appear most beneficial-dance maximizes accuracy, while aerobic exercise optimizes reaction time. Tailoring exercise interventions to specific cognitive targets may enhance working memory development and inform practical, evidence-based strategies in educational and clinical settings. Systematic review registration: RD420251005303.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.