Transient modulations of inhibitory control in children with ADHD: The effect of a single bout of physical activity

Given the increasing prevalence of sedentary behaviors during childhood, and the concomitant pervasiveness of neurobehavioral disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a greater understanding of the extent to which physical activity relates to brain health and cognition during development is of increasing importance. Accordingly, the aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of a single bout of moderately- intense aerobic exercise on preadolescent children with ADHD. Using a within-participants design, event-related potentials and task performance were assessed while participants performed an interference control task following a bout of exercise or seated reading during two separate, counterbalanced sessions. Following a single bout of exercise, both children with ADHD and healthy match-control children exhibited greater response accuracy and enhanced stimulus-related processing, with ADHD children also exhibiting selective enhancements in regulatory processes, relative to after a similar duration of seated reading. Enhanced scholastic performance in the areas of Reading and Arithmetic were also observed following exercise for both children with ADHD and healthy match-control children. These findings indicate that single bouts of moderately-intense aerobic exercise may serve as a transient non-pharmaceutical treatment option for children with ADHD to improve the cognitive health, academic performance, and overall effective functioning of this population.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Pontifex, Matthew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hillman, Charles H.
• Cohen, Neal J.
• Evans, Ellen M.
• Kramer, Arthur F.
• McAuley, Edward

• Acute Exercise
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Cognition
• Inhibition
• Physical Activity

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Matthew Pontifex

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/29666

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/29666