The effects of acute aerobic and resistance exercise on the planning aspect of executive functions in children with preterm birth

Acute exercise has been shown to facilitate executive function (EF) in children. However, the extent to which acute exercise improves EF in children with preterm birth (PB) remains unknown. Furthermore, whether different types of exercise, such as aerobic exercise (AE) or resistance exercise (RE), have differential effects on EF in children with PB also remains unexplored. The present study investigated whether acute exercise performed by children with PB is beneficial for specific EF domains, such as planning, which is impacted by developmental deterioration in children with PB. We also determined the specific effects on EF moderated by AE and RE in children with PB. A total of 30 children with PB completed three sessions (AE, RE, control) for 30 minutes each, using a within-subjects crossover post-test comparison design. Following each session, the children performed a Tower of London (TOL) task, a neuropsychological test that measures the planning aspects of EF. The results revealed that compared with the control session, following acute exercise, the TOL task was performed with a fewer total move score, a shorter total executive time, and total problem-solving time, suggesting that acute exercise was beneficial for improved planning-related move and time efficiency. The present study also showed that children in either AE or RE exhibited similar and positive beneficial outcomes on the planning aspect of EF compared with those in sedentary control. These findings suggest that acute exercise, regardless of the exercise type, has the potential to facilitate EF in children with PB.