RT Journal Article
T1 The effect of active learning on cognitive performance and physical fitness in preschool children: the role of exercise intensity
A1 Martín Martínez, Carlos
A1 García Zapico, Augusto
A1 Valenzuela, Pedro L.
A1 Mañas Bote, Asier
A1 Martínez de Quel, Óscar
AB 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.
PB Elsevier
SN 1440-2440
SN 1878-1861 (electrónico)
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27454
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27454
LA eng
NO Martín Martínez, C., Zapico, A. G., Valenzuela, P. L., Mañas, A., & Martinez-de-Quel, O. (2025). The effect of active learning on cognitive performance and physical fitness in preschool children: the role of exercise intensity. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 28(8), 645–652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2025.03.004
NO 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.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026