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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Dec 22;20(1):164.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010164.

An After-School Football Session Transiently Improves Cognitive Function in Children

Daniele Magistro  1 , Simon B Cooper  1 , Ruth Boat  1 , Fabio Carlevaro  2 , Francesca Magno  2   3 , Cristian Castagno  3 , Martina Simon  2 , Giovanni Musella  2   3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

An After-School Football Session Transiently Improves Cognitive Function in Children

Daniele Magistro et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a real-world after-school football session on subsequent cognitive function in primary school children. Following ethical approval, 100 children (aged 8−9 year) from the same after-school football club were randomly assigned to either an intervention (60 min football activity) or control (continued to rest) group. Cognitive function (selective visual attention, short term memory and long-term memory) was assessed prior to, immediately following and 45 min following the football session (and at the respective timepoints in the control group). Data were analysed via two-way (group * time) mixed methods ANOVA. The pattern of change in all domains of cognition over time, was different between the football and control groups (group * time, all p < 0.001). Specifically, performance on all cognitive tasks was greater immediately following the football session in the intervention group compared to the control group (selective visual attention, p = 0.003; short-term memory, p = 0.004; long-term memory, p < 0.001). However, there was no difference between the group 45 min following the football session (p = 0.132−0.393). These findings suggest that an after-school football session enhances cognition immediately post-activity in primary school children.

Keywords: attention; children; cognition; football; memory; physical activity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selective visual attention ([n] = number of correctly identified symbols) in the football and control groups across the morning (group * time interaction, p < 0.001; * football > control, p = 0.003).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Short term memory performance ([n] = number of correctly recalled words) in the football and control groups across the morning (group * time interaction, p < 0.001; * football > control, p = 0.004).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Long term memory performance ([n] = number of correctly recalled words) in the football and control groups across the morning (group * time interaction, p < 0.001; * football > control, p < 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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