Effects of movement behaviors on preschoolers' cognition: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Catalina Pacheco1,2, Victoria Culkin1, Amelia Putkaradze1,3
1Prevention Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Insights
Cognitively engaging physical activity interventions significantly boost preschooler cognitive skills. More research is needed on sedentary behavior and sleep interventions for early childhood development.
Area of Science:
- Early Childhood Development
- Behavioral Science
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) are crucial for early childhood development, impacting physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
- While physical health benefits are known, the effects of movement behavior interventions on cognitive development in preschoolers are under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the impact of interventions targeting physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep on cognitive outcomes in preschool-aged children.
- To identify gaps in the literature regarding the effects of specific movement behaviors and their combinations on cognitive development.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted.
- Searches were performed across five databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL) for studies published between January 2000 and December 2023.
- Included RCTs focused on at least one movement behavior, had a minimum intervention duration of four weeks, and assessed cognitive development (e.g., executive function, attention, memory).
Main Results:
- Twenty-two RCTs met the criteria; 21 focused on PA, one on SB, and none on sleep or combined behaviors.
- PA interventions, especially those with cognitive engagement, significantly improved executive function, inhibition, and attention (moderate to large effect sizes).
- The single SB intervention showed no significant cognitive improvements, and data on sleep and combined behaviors are lacking.
Conclusions:
- Cognitively engaging PA interventions show the most promise for enhancing cognitive development in preschoolers.
- Current evidence on sedentary behavior and sleep interventions' cognitive effects is limited.
- Future research should investigate integrated interventions addressing PA, SB, and sleep to understand their collective impact on cognitive development.
Background:
Movement behaviors, including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep, are fundamental to early childhood development. These behaviors interact dynamically within a 24-hour period, creating a complex balance that influences not only physical health but also cognitive and emotional well-being in young children. While the physical health benefits of movement behaviors are well-documented, systematic evaluations of how interventions targeting these behaviors affect cognitive development in preschool-aged children remain limited.
Methods:
This review was guided through PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the impact of interventions targeting PA, SB, and sleep on cognitive outcomes in preschool-aged children. A comprehensive search was performed across five databases: PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL, covering studies published between January 2000 and December 2023. Eligible studies were those that focused on at least one movement behavior, had a minimum intervention duration of four weeks, and assessed cognitive development as a primary outcome. The cognitive outcomes evaluated included executive function, attention, memory, and other key domains critical to early childhood development, such as language, processing speed, and social cognition.
Results:
Twenty-two RCTs (14 individual, 8 cluster) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 21 studies focused on PA, while only one targeted SB, and none specifically addressed sleep or combined movement behaviors. PA interventions, particularly those involving cognitively engaging activities, significantly improved cognitive domains such as executive function, inhibition, and attention, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (Cohen's d > 0.5). The SB-focused study did not report significant cognitive improvements. A clear gap exists in understanding the effects of sleep and multi-behavior interventions on cognitive outcomes.
Conclusions:
Cognitively engaging PA interventions demonstrated the largest effects, while motor skill-focused and general PA programs produced moderate to smaller gains. Evidence on SB and sleep interventions remains limited, with no studies exploring the combined effects of these three movement behaviors. Future research should focus on integrated interventions that address PA, SB, and sleep to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of their collective impact on cognitive development in early childhood.
Trial Registration:
This study was registered with PROSPERO under the registration number CRD42023479156.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Information Processing Approach
01:17Cognitivism
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...