ArticleFrontiers in psychology2025
Time-course effects of cognitively engaging physical activity on executive function and self-control in younger school-aged children: a randomized controlled trial.
Article 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 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses 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
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The effects of physical activity on executive function in preschool children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- A new potential intervention strategy to promote the "body-mind-brain" health development of Chinese children and adolescents: a scoping review.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of cognitively engaging physical activity on executive function, mental health, and physical fitness in school-age children: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.BMC psychology · 2026Trial
- Article
- Internet addiction and mind-wandering in Chinese college students: chain mediation roles of physical activity and self-control.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
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the time-course effects of cognitively engaging physical activity (CEPA) on executive function (EF) and self-control in younger school-aged children (ages 8-10 years) exploring the differential impacts and temporal dynamics of the intervention. Methods: Using a cluster randomized controlled trial design, 203 younger school-aged children (age = 8.9 ± 0.67, male 54.7%, female 45.3%) were randomly allocated into either an experimental group receiving CEPA or a control group receiving the traditional physical education curriculum. The intervention lasted 10 weeks, occurring three times per week, 45 min per session, structured according to a "graded cognitive load" principle, progressively increasing cognitive complexity and challenges. Assessments of EF (inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility) and self-control (social interaction, emotional experience, learning behaviors, daily habits) were conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models were used to account for the clustered study design. Results: Linear mixed-effects models revealed significant time-by-group interaction effects for executive function components: inhibitory control ( Conclusion: This study systematically confirms the immediate and lasting effectiveness of CEPA on younger school-aged children's executive function and self-control, highlighting the differential effects across cognitive and behavioral domains and their nonlinear temporal characteristics. These findings underscore the value of integrating cognitive engagement elements into the school-based physical education curriculum, offering robust empirical support for educational practices and policy decisions aimed at comprehensive cognitive and behavioral development among children.
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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.