Acute Effects of Cooperative and Coordinative Exercise on Inhibitory Control and Classroom Behavior

To systematically examine the acute effects of pre-class exercise differing in cooperative and coordinative demands on inhibitory control and off-task behaviour in children and adolescents.

Two randomized controlled trials were conducted in school settings. Participants were randomly assigned to two exercise groups or a control group. Study 1 (N = 110) compared 20-min pre-class exercise with and without increased coordinative demands, whereas Study 2 (N = 100) compared exercise with and without additional cooperative demands. Inhibitory control was assessed at pre- and posttest using a computerized Flanker task, and off-task behavior was evaluated via video-based classroom observations during the subsequent lesson.

Path modeling indicated that pre-class exercise without additional cooperative and coordinative demands was associated with reduced off-task behavior at posttest across both studies and faster reaction times in incongruent trials at posttest in Study 1, when pretest scores were accounted for. In contrast, cooperative demands attenuated these effects, whereas coordinative demands were associated with increased off-task behavior. Changes in off-task behavior were not related to changes in cognitive performance.

A brief bout of exercise prior to classroom instruction can reduce students' off-task behavior, even in the absence of changes in inhibitory control. In contrast, more complex forms of exercise that integrate coordinative or cooperative demands may nullify or even reverse this effect.