Aerobic Fitness And Executive Function: Associations With Performance, Reaction Time, And Prefrontal Efficiency In Adolescents

Executive functioning (EF) plays an important role in goal-directed behaviors, problem-solving, and adaptive functioning, making it essential for success throughout life. Aerobic fitness has been linked to cognitive development during adolescence, a period of significant brain maturation, including in brain regions associated with EF. Evidence suggests that engaging in aerobic activities can positively influence EF by enhancing neural efficiency and improving behavioral performance, such as better task accuracy and faster reaction times (RT). Understanding the link between aerobic fitness and EF is important to inform policies and interventions that can enhance EF and promote optimal cognitive development during adolescence. PURPOSE: To explore how aerobic fitness is associated with behavioral (task performance, RT) and neural (functional near-infrared spectroscopy; fNIRS) indicators of EF in adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 36 adolescents (55% female) aged 10 to 17-years-old were included in analyses. Aerobic fitness was measured using the PACER test, and EF was assessed with fNIRS, behavioral performance, and RT during the Stroop, Backwards Digit Span, and Wisconsin Card Sorting tasks. Linear regression was used to test the hypotheses that higher aerobic fitness would predict better EF task performance, faster RT, and more efficient activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). RESULTS: The regression models revealed that, controlling for BMI, aerobic fitness marginally, positively predicted EF task performance (β = .36, t = 2.03, p = .052), and negatively predicted EF reaction time (β = -.38, t = -2.26, p = .031) and neural EF (β = -.45, t = -2.46, p = .021), as measured by oxygenated blood flow over the PFC. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that higher aerobic fitness may enhance multiple aspects of EF during adolescence, as indicated by better task performance, faster reaction times, and neural efficiency in the PFC.