Associations between Prospective Memory, Executive Function and Physical Activity in Schoolchildren

Abstract

Introduction

Prospective memory refers to a system that allows us to remember to perform an intended task without an explicit reminder. Executive function such as working memory or inhibition are responsible for goal-directed behavior and cognitive control processes. Those cognitive abilities are critical for successfully coping with everyday challenges from school age to late adulthood (Diamond, 2013). There is evidence for a link between cognitive performance and physical activity (Donnelly et al., 2016). While there are some studies that have found associations between executive functions and physical activity, little research has examined such links with prospective memory, although a possible relationship is suggested in the literature (Loprinzi et al., 2018). Further research provided evidence that prospective memory is related to working memory and attention (Ball et al., 2022). Thus, this study aimed to investigate associations between prospective memory, executive functions, and physical activity in schoolchildren.

Methods

99 primary schoolchildren aged 10.1 ± 1.4 years underwent a prospective memory task, which was nested in a 1-Back and a Flanker paradigm. The Flanker task served as distractor task after prospective cues were introduced and participants had to remember that prospective trials embeeded in a subsequent 1-Back task required a different response. In addition, their physical activity levels were recorded over seven consecutive days using accelerometers (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT, ActiGraph, Pensacola, USA). For the same time period, participants also completed a 7-day physical activity recall questionnaire Objective and subjective physical activity was categorized into moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA) and moderate-to vigurous physical activity (MVPA).

Results

Partial correlations that controlled for age and sex showed that higher MVPA (recorded from subjective and objective assessments) was associated with higher accuracy on the prospective memory task. Accuracy on the Flanker task was associated with VPA in both subjective and objective measures. Further, accuracy on the 1-Back task was positively associated with self-reported MPA, but only VPA in the objective assessment.

Discussion/Conclusion

Independent of the type of physical activity assessment, higher prospective memory and inhibitory control were positively associated with physical activity. However, it is not clear whether children with higher cognitive abilities tend to engage in more physical activity or whether the physical activity leads to better cognitive function. Further research is needed to establish possible causal relationships.

References

Ball, B. H., Wiemers, E. A., & Brewer, G. A. (2022). Individual differences in memory and attention processes in prospective remembering. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 29(3), 922–933. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-022-02059-3

Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64(1), 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750

Donnelly, J. E., Hillman, C. H., Castelli, D., Etnier, J. L., Lee, S., Tomporowski, P., Lambourne, K., & Szabo-Reed, A. N. (2016). Physical activity, fitness, cognitive function, and academic achievement in children: A systematic review. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(6), 1197–1222. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000901

Loprinzi, P. D., Edwards, M. K., & Frith, E. (2018). Exercise and prospective memory. Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8(2), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.15280/jlm.2018.8.2.51