@article{10272/27454,
year = {2025},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27454},
abstract = {Objectives: To analyze the effects of different PA intensities during active learning on cognitive performance and physical fitness in preschool children.
Design: Cluster randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Four classrooms (n = 99 children aged 3–6 years) were randomly allocated to two intervention groups that performed either light PA (LPA, n = 26) or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, n = 25) during foreign language (English) lessons, or to a control group (n = 48) that maintained their usual sedentary lessons. The intervention consisted of two 45-min lessons per week and was performed over a 10-week period. Children's PA levels and in-tensity during sessions were assessed through accelerometry. Primary outcomes included the retention of foreign language vocabulary (free-and cued-recall tests), cognitive performance (BENCI battery), and physical fitness (PREFIT battery).
Results: Both LPA and particularly MVPA groups resulted in greater total PA levels and intensity compared with the control group (p < 0.001) and provided significantly larger benefits in the free-recall test and verbal memory (all p < 0.05 compared to the control group). Additionally, MVPA group provided larger benefits in the free-and cued-recall tests, speed agility and cardiorespiratory fitness (all p < 0.05 compared to LPA).
Conclusions: Physically active learning appears as an effective strategy for enhancing foreign language vocabulary, cognitive performance, and physical fitness in preschool children. Increasing PA intensity seems to maximize these benefits.},
organization = {Research by P.L.V. is supported by a Sara Borrell postdoctoral con-tract granted by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CD21/00138). A.M. is hired through a contract of Requalification “Margarita Salas” funded by the University of Castilla-La Mancha (MS2021). No specific funding was received for this study . The authors thank Natalia Hidalgo Ruzzante, Miguel Pérez García and Inmaculada Teva Álvarez, researchers from University of Granada, for allowing us using the BENCI Battery.},
publisher = {Elsevier},
title = {The effect of active learning on cognitive performance and physical fitness in preschool children: the role of exercise intensity},
doi = {10.1016/j.jsams.2025.03.004},
author = {Martín Martínez, Carlos and García Zapico, Augusto and Valenzuela, Pedro L. and Mañas Bote, Asier and Martínez de Quel, Óscar},
}