Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
09:13

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: April 22, 2015

16.9K

Effects of Mini-Basketball Training Program on Executive Functions and Core Symptoms among Preschool Children with

Jin-Gui Wang1, Ke-Long Cai1, Zhi-Mei Liu1

  • 1College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China.

Brain Sciences
|May 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

A 12-week mini-basketball training program (MBTP) significantly improved executive functions and core symptoms in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This physical exercise intervention shows promise as a complementary treatment for ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Behavioral Therapy

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents challenges in executive functions and core symptoms like social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
  • Early intervention is crucial for improving outcomes in preschoolers with ASD.
  • The potential role of physical activity in mitigating ASD symptoms requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of a 12-week mini-basketball training program (MBTP) on executive functions in preschoolers with ASD.
  • To assess the effects of MBTP on core ASD symptoms, specifically social communication impairment and repetitive behaviors.
  • To explore MBTP as a potential therapeutic exercise intervention for young children with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental pilot study involving 33 preschoolers diagnosed with ASD.
  • Participants were assigned to either an 18-child MBTP group or a 15-child control group, receiving conventional rehabilitation.
  • The MBTP group engaged in 40-minute sessions, five days a week for 12 weeks; the control group maintained daily activities.
  • Evaluations used the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI), Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2), and Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R).

Main Results:

  • The MBTP group demonstrated significant improvements in working memory (p < 0.01) and regulation (p < 0.05) compared to the control group.
  • Significant reductions in social communication impairment (p < 0.05) and repetitive behaviors (p < 0.05) were observed in the MBTP group.
  • Effect sizes indicated moderate improvements in executive functions and small to moderate improvements in core ASD symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • A 12-week mini-basketball training program (MBTP) can enhance executive functions in preschoolers with ASD.
  • MBTP effectively reduces core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, including social communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
  • Regular physical exercise, specifically MBTP, presents a promising, evidence-based complementary approach for managing ASD in early childhood.

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderschildrencore symptomsexecutive functionsexercise

More Related Videos

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

8.0K
Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

46.3K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
814
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
323
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
372