The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity
This study aimed to explore the relationship between motor skill learning and executive function (EF), with an emphasis on the potential effects of football juggling learning. A randomized controlled trial involving 111 participants aged 17–19 years was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1362418/full |
| _version_ | 1797271408501325824 |
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| author | Xiaoxiao Dong Xiang Gui Sebastian Klich Lina Zhu Dandan Chen Zhiyuan Sun Yifan Shi Aiguo Chen |
| author_facet | Xiaoxiao Dong Xiang Gui Sebastian Klich Lina Zhu Dandan Chen Zhiyuan Sun Yifan Shi Aiguo Chen |
| author_sort | Xiaoxiao Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to explore the relationship between motor skill learning and executive function (EF), with an emphasis on the potential effects of football juggling learning. A randomized controlled trial involving 111 participants aged 17–19 years was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the football juggling learning (FJL) group or a control group. The FJL group underwent 70 sessions of football juggling learning, while the control group engaged in their normal daily activities without any exercise intervention during the same time frame. Both groups were assessed for EF performance and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after the experiment. The executive function test included three tasks, namely, inhibition, working memory, and shifting. The results showed significant improvement in inhibition and shifting in both groups, and the FJL group showed greater improvement in these aspects of EF compared to the control group. Additionally, in comparison to the control group, the FJL group exhibited increased functional connectivity within the frontal, temporal, and cerebellar regions from the pre-test to the post-test. Notably, enhanced functional connectivity between the right superior temporal gyrus (posterior division) and left cerebellum 6 was identified in the FJL group and was associated with improved EF performance induced by football juggling learning. These findings shed light on the potential causal relationship between motor skill learning, EF, and brain plasticity. Importantly, our study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of motor skill learning, such as football juggling, as a potential avenue for cognitive enhancement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:03:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9e5b2a9e9c6487a8c9efc5bdf465f28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:03:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9e5b2a9e9c6487a8c9efc5bdf465f282024-03-07T04:59:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612024-03-011810.3389/fnhum.2024.13624181362418The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivityXiaoxiao Dong0Xiang Gui1Sebastian Klich2Lina Zhu3Dandan Chen4Zhiyuan Sun5Yifan Shi6Aiguo Chen7Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, ChinaYangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Paralympic Sport, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, PolandYangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaYangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaYangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaYangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaNanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, ChinaThis study aimed to explore the relationship between motor skill learning and executive function (EF), with an emphasis on the potential effects of football juggling learning. A randomized controlled trial involving 111 participants aged 17–19 years was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the football juggling learning (FJL) group or a control group. The FJL group underwent 70 sessions of football juggling learning, while the control group engaged in their normal daily activities without any exercise intervention during the same time frame. Both groups were assessed for EF performance and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after the experiment. The executive function test included three tasks, namely, inhibition, working memory, and shifting. The results showed significant improvement in inhibition and shifting in both groups, and the FJL group showed greater improvement in these aspects of EF compared to the control group. Additionally, in comparison to the control group, the FJL group exhibited increased functional connectivity within the frontal, temporal, and cerebellar regions from the pre-test to the post-test. Notably, enhanced functional connectivity between the right superior temporal gyrus (posterior division) and left cerebellum 6 was identified in the FJL group and was associated with improved EF performance induced by football juggling learning. These findings shed light on the potential causal relationship between motor skill learning, EF, and brain plasticity. Importantly, our study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of motor skill learning, such as football juggling, as a potential avenue for cognitive enhancement.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1362418/fullfootball jugglingmotor learningexecutive functionfunctional connectivityfunctional magnetic resonance imaging |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoxiao Dong Xiang Gui Sebastian Klich Lina Zhu Dandan Chen Zhiyuan Sun Yifan Shi Aiguo Chen The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity Frontiers in Human Neuroscience football juggling motor learning executive function functional connectivity functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| title | The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity |
| title_full | The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity |
| title_fullStr | The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity |
| title_short | The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity |
| title_sort | effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity |
| topic | football juggling motor learning executive function functional connectivity functional magnetic resonance imaging |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1362418/full |
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