The Impact of Physical Activity on Executive Functions Among Pre-schoolers

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.200529.183How to use a DOI?

Keywords

executive functions, physical activity, pre-schoolers

Abstract

Executive Functions (EF) are the ability of individuals to initiate, adapt, organize, monitor, and control information and behaviour processes. EF consists of three basic components, namely inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Those three components play a crucial role in children’s cognitive, behavioural and social emotional development as the aspects of children’s school readiness. Through experimental research methods, this study examines the effect of physical exercise to improve executive functions components among preschool children. The subjects of this study were 132 children aged 5-7 years from three preschools in Magelang City. They were divided into three groups, namely the experiment group 1 who were given complex physical training (with cognitive involvement), the experimental group 2 with simple physical training (without cognitive involvement), and the control groups without any treatment. The two experimental groups were given two sessions of training per week during four weeks. The results of the study showed that complex physical activity had an effect on EF, specifically the inhibition and WM component. Children who were given complex physical activity showed an increase in inhibition test scores and WM that were higher than children who were given simple physical activity and who were not given physical activity. While simple physical activity just effects on WM. Physical activity, both complex and simple, did not affect to CF. In addition, the findings of this study also indicate that mother’s education plays a role in increasing children’s inhibition.

Copyright

© 2020, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Hermahayu
AU  - Supra Wimbarti
AU  - Ia Paramastri
AU  - Ria Lumintuarso
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/05/04
TI  - The Impact of Physical Activity on Executive Functions Among Pre-schoolers
BT  - Proceedings of the 1st Borobudur International Symposium on Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences (BIS-HESS 2019)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 863
EP  - 868
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200529.183
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.200529.183
ID  - 2020
ER  -