Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis
IntroductionPhysical activity interventions improve cognitive performance, especially visuospatial working memory (VSWM). However, evidence on the effects of these interventions in children, adolescents, and older adults remains scant. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the effects of physical act...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1103003/full |
| _version_ | 1797924624579690496 |
|---|---|
| author | Qiqi Zhu Jie Deng Meixi Yao Chong Xu Demin Liu Liya Guo Yu Zhu |
| author_facet | Qiqi Zhu Jie Deng Meixi Yao Chong Xu Demin Liu Liya Guo Yu Zhu |
| author_sort | Qiqi Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPhysical activity interventions improve cognitive performance, especially visuospatial working memory (VSWM). However, evidence on the effects of these interventions in children, adolescents, and older adults remains scant. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the effects of physical activity on VSWM improvement in healthy individuals and the best exercise intervention program to improve VSWM capacity.MethodsWe searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise interventions targeting VSWM in healthy individuals from Web of Science, MEDLINE, BIOSIS Previews, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data (Chinese) databases, from inception to August 20, 2022.ResultsAmong 21 articles (1,595 healthy participants), the heterogeneity test statistic was I2 = 32.3%, p = 0.053. The mean quality scores of the included articles were 6.9 points (reaction time [RT] studies) and 7.5 points (Score studies). Moreover, 28 RCTs were included (10 RT studies and 18 Score studies), and the subgroup analysis found significant effects for elderly participants, children, interventions involving a higher level of cognitive engagement, low and moderate exercise intensity, chronic exercise, exercise duration ≥60 min, and exercise period ≥90 days. Physical activity had a small but significant positive impact on VSWM in healthy individuals. Current evidence confirms the effects of physical activity on VSWM capacity only in children and seniors but not in young adults. Other age groups, including adolescents and middle-aged adults, have not been studied. Prescription of interventions involving high-level cognitive engagement, low and moderate exercise intensity, chronic exercise, exercise for >30 min per session, and exercise for more than 3 months is recommended for children and seniors.DiscussionFuture RCTs would be to fill the gap in studies on adolescents and middle-aged adults, and report detailed exercise intervention programs about different age groups.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022354737). INPLASY (https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2022.8.0053). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:03:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13e46d5b7c56457eb96e47df0906a3ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:03:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-13e46d5b7c56457eb96e47df0906a3ba2023-02-15T06:15:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-02-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11030031103003Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysisQiqi Zhu0Jie Deng1Meixi Yao2Chong Xu3Demin Liu4Liya Guo5Yu Zhu6College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaPhysical Education College, Zhengzhou University, Henan, ChinaMinistry of Sports and National Defense Education, Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaIntroductionPhysical activity interventions improve cognitive performance, especially visuospatial working memory (VSWM). However, evidence on the effects of these interventions in children, adolescents, and older adults remains scant. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the effects of physical activity on VSWM improvement in healthy individuals and the best exercise intervention program to improve VSWM capacity.MethodsWe searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise interventions targeting VSWM in healthy individuals from Web of Science, MEDLINE, BIOSIS Previews, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data (Chinese) databases, from inception to August 20, 2022.ResultsAmong 21 articles (1,595 healthy participants), the heterogeneity test statistic was I2 = 32.3%, p = 0.053. The mean quality scores of the included articles were 6.9 points (reaction time [RT] studies) and 7.5 points (Score studies). Moreover, 28 RCTs were included (10 RT studies and 18 Score studies), and the subgroup analysis found significant effects for elderly participants, children, interventions involving a higher level of cognitive engagement, low and moderate exercise intensity, chronic exercise, exercise duration ≥60 min, and exercise period ≥90 days. Physical activity had a small but significant positive impact on VSWM in healthy individuals. Current evidence confirms the effects of physical activity on VSWM capacity only in children and seniors but not in young adults. Other age groups, including adolescents and middle-aged adults, have not been studied. Prescription of interventions involving high-level cognitive engagement, low and moderate exercise intensity, chronic exercise, exercise for >30 min per session, and exercise for more than 3 months is recommended for children and seniors.DiscussionFuture RCTs would be to fill the gap in studies on adolescents and middle-aged adults, and report detailed exercise intervention programs about different age groups.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022354737). INPLASY (https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2022.8.0053).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1103003/fullphysical activityvisuospatial working memoryhealthy individualschildrenseniors |
| spellingShingle | Qiqi Zhu Jie Deng Meixi Yao Chong Xu Demin Liu Liya Guo Yu Zhu Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychology physical activity visuospatial working memory healthy individuals children seniors |
| title | Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of physical activity on visuospatial working memory in healthy individuals a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | physical activity visuospatial working memory healthy individuals children seniors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1103003/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qiqizhu effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT jiedeng effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT meixiyao effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT chongxu effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT deminliu effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT liyaguo effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT yuzhu effectsofphysicalactivityonvisuospatialworkingmemoryinhealthyindividualsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis |