Beyond Aerobic Fitness: Effects of Coordination and Aerobic Exercise on Executive Functions in School-Aged Children

NCT07658404 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRU-2026-02-08
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 78
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of aerobic exercise and coordination-based exercise on executive functions in school-aged children aged 10 to 12 years. Executive functions, including working memory and selective attention, are essential cognitive skills that support learning, academic achievement, problem-solving, and daily functioning. A total of 78 healthy children will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: an Aerobic Exercise Group, a Coordination Exercise Group, or a Control Group. Participants in the intervention groups will complete supervised exercise sessions lasting 40 minutes, three times per week, for 14 weeks. The aerobic exercise program will include activities designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, while the coordination exercise program will involve tasks requiring motor control, balance, bilateral coordination, and cognitive engagement. Participants in the control group will continue their usual school activities without additional structured exercise. Working memory and selective attention will be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized neuropsychological tests. The findings of this study may improve understanding of how different types of physical activity influence cognitive development in children and may help educators and health professionals design more effective school-based physical activity programs that support both physical and cognitive health.

Conditions

Executive Functions (EF); Working Memory; Selective Attention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Working Memory

  Working memory performance will be assessed using the Visual-Auditory Digit Span Test. The test evaluates the ability to temporarily store, manipulate, and recall information through auditory and visual modalities. Higher scores indicate better working memory performance.

  Baseline and Week 14

• Selective Attention

  Selective attention will be assessed using the d2 Test of Attention. Outcome measures include concentration performance, processing speed, and error rates. Higher concentration scores indicate better selective attention performance.

  Baseline and Week 14

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Motor Coordination

  Baseline

• Cardiorespiratory Fitness

  Baseline

Study Arms (3)

Aerobic Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a supervised aerobic exercise program for 14 weeks, consisting of 40-minute sessions conducted three times per week. The program included high-intensity interval activities, sprint running, and game-based aerobic exercises designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise Program

Coordination Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a supervised coordination-based exercise program for 14 weeks, consisting of 40-minute sessions conducted three times per week. Activities included jump-rope combinations, dynamic balance exercises, bilateral coordination tasks, and multidirectional movement tasks requiring cognitive engagement.

Behavioral: Coordination Exercise Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants continued their usual school curriculum and daily activities without receiving any additional structured exercise intervention during the study period.

Interventions

Aerobic Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed a supervised aerobic exercise program for 14 weeks. Exercise sessions were conducted three times per week and lasted 40 minutes each. The intervention included high-intensity interval activities, sprint running, and game-based aerobic tasks designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Exercise intensity was monitored using heart rate monitors, and participants maintained an intensity corresponding to 65% to 85% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate.

Also known as: Aerobic Training

Aerobic Exercise Group

Coordination Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed a supervised coordination-based exercise program for 14 weeks. Exercise sessions were conducted three times per week and lasted 40 minutes each. The intervention included jump-rope combinations, dynamic balance exercises, bilateral coordination activities, and multidirectional movement tasks requiring cognitive engagement. Exercise intensity was standardized using ratings of perceived exertion, targeting Borg scale scores between 13 and 16.

Also known as: Coordination Training

Coordination Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children aged between 10 and 12 years.
• Typically developing children without diagnosed neurological, developmental, or physical disorders.
• Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians.
• Child assent provided before participation.

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Presence of learning disabilities.
• Neurological, developmental, or chronic medical conditions limiting participation in physical activity.
• Attendance of less than 80% of the intervention sessions.
• Occurrence of health problems during the study period that prevented continued participation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Gelisim University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Rumeli University

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34570, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 13, 2026
• First Posted: June 22, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 10, 2026
• Study Completion: June 10, 2026
• Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Locations

TU (1)