Effects of after-school, high-intensity physical activity programme, on levels of attention of school children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of two programs of physical activity (moderate and high intensity physical activity), in the levels of attention of a sample of young in scholar aged. 94 children, boys=52 and girls=42 (Age M = 8.20; SD = 0.70) from Granada (Spain) participated in the investigation. A quasi-experimental design was used, with control and experimental group. Evidence of attentional span and search items on matrices with the purpose of analyzing the amplitude of the attention and selective attention were applied. As a control variable, cardiorespiratory fitness by maximum oxygen uptake and peak speed reached during maximal aerobic activity was evaluated. The results showed significant effects in favor of high-intensity program on two tests of attentional span and exercises selective attention, as well as the values of fitness. These data suggest that the physical practice of intermittent high intensity practiced regularly could have positive implications on cognitive performance of children and improving the physical condition could be one of the factors linked to these changes.