Table 2.
Overview of basic characteristics of included literature in meta-analysis.
| Included Studies | Country | Research type | Age (Years) | Participants (M/F) | Sample Size (N) | Intervention characteristics | Intervention Duration (Weeks) | Session Duration | Session Frequency | Outcome measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altermann and Gröpel (2023) | Austria | RCT | 16.5 ± 1.12 | 80 (39/41) | IG = 60; CG = 20 | 25-min high-intensity interval training (HIIT) | / | 25 min | / | Attention:(D2-test) |
| 25-min full-body strength circuit workout | / | 25 min | / | Attention:(D2-test) | ||||||
| 25-min coordination circuit training | / | 25 min | / | Attention:(D2-test) | ||||||
| Costigan et al. (2017) | Australia | RCT | 15.8 ± 0.6 | 65 (45/20) | IG = 43; CG = 22 | Aerobic Exercise Program: HIIT sessions(e.g., shuttle runs, jumping jacks, skipping) | 8 | 8-10 min | 3 times/week | executive function:(TMT) |
| Resistance and Aerobic Program: HIIT sessions (e.g., shuttle runs, jumping jacks, skipping, combined with body weight squats, push-ups) | 8 | 8-10 min | 3 times/week | executive function:(TMT) | ||||||
| Benzing et al. (2016) | Switzerland | RCT | 14.52 ± 1.03 | 42 (42/0) | IG = 21; CG = 21 | “Shape Up” game: aerobics | / | 15 min | / | inhibitory control:(D-KEFS) |
| “run the world”game:run | / | 15 min | / | Cognitive flexibility:(D-KEFS) | ||||||
| Williams et al. (2022) | United Kingdom | RCT | 11.7 ± 0.3 | 16 (0/16) | IG = 8; CG = 8 | sprint training | 2 | Week one:5.5 min Week two:6.5 min |
3 times/week | Working memory:(Sternberg test) executive function:(Stroop test) inhibitory control:(Flanker task) |
| Altenburg et al. (2016) | Netherlands | RCT | 11.4 ± 0.8 | 36 | IG = 17; CG = 19 | dance activities | / | 20 min | / | Attention:(TEA-Ch) |
| Budde et al. (2008) | Germany | RCT | 14.98 ± 0.78 | 99 (80/19) | IG = 47; CG = 52 | Acute coordinative exercise | 2 | 7.5 min | 2 times/week | Attention:(D2-test) |
| Ranjani et al. (2023) | India | RCT | / | 2000 | IG = 996; CG = 1,004 |
yoga | 17 | 35 min | 2 times/week | Attention:(LCT) |
| Subramanian, 2015 | India | RCT | 14 ± 1 | 275 (152/123) | IG = 136; CG = 139 |
Structured Physical activity | 26 | 120 min | 6 times/week | Attention:(LCT) executive function:(TMT) cognitive flexibility:(RFFT) |
| Hillman et al. (2014) | United States | RCT | / | 221 (119/102) | IG = 109; CG = 112 |
Aerobic fitness | 21 | 70 min | / | inhibitory control:(Flanker task) cognitive flexibility:(Switch task) |
| Kamijo et al. (2011) | United States | RCT | 9.1 ± 0.6 | 36 (17/19) | IG = 20; CG = 16 | physical fitness exercise | 39 | 120 min | 2 times/week | Working memory:(Sternberg task) |
| Ludyga et al. (2018) | Switzerland | RCT | 12.5 ± 0.7 | 36 (23/13) | IG = 20; CG = 16 | aerobic and coordinative exercises | 8 | 20 min | 5 times/week | inhibitory control:(Stroop task) |
| Kim and So (2015) | Korea | RCT | 9.20 ± 1.40 | 20 (8/12) | IG = 10; CG = 10 | resistance and aerobic exercise programmed | 16 | 90 min | 2 times/week | inhibitory control:(Stroop task) |
| Silva et al. (2020) | Brazil | RCT | 12 ± 2 | 20 (14/6) | IG = 10; CG = 10 | swimming–learning program | 8 | 45 min | 2 times/week | cognitive flexibility:(TMT) Attention:(TAC) |
| Leahy et al. (2020) | Australia | RCT | 16.2 ± 0.4 | 62 (32/30) | IG = 33; CG = 29 | HIIT sessions | 14 | 12-20 min | 3 times/week | inhibitory control:(Flanker task) Working memory:(n-back task) |
| Davis et al. (2011) | United States | RCT | 9.3 ± 1.0 | 116 | IG = 56; CG = 60 | Aerobic exercise | 13 | 40 min | / | executive function:(CAS) |
| Davis et al. (2007) | United States | RCT | 9.2 ± 0.84 | 61 | IG = 32; CG = 29 | Aerobic fitness exercise | 15 | 40 min | 5 times/week | executive function:(CAS) |
| Krafft et al., 2014 | United States | RCT | 9.9 ± 0.9 | 43 (15/28) | IG = 19; CG = 24 | Aerobic exercise | 34 | 40 min | 5 times/week | inhibitory control:(Flanker task) |
| Chou et al. (2023) | China | RCT | 11 ± 0.64 | 50 | IG = 25; CG = 25 | competitive team games | 10 | 40 min | 5 times/week | inhibitory control:(Flanker task) |
| Alvarez and Emory (2006); Chou et al. (2019) | China | RCT | 12.19 ± 0.68 | 84 (52/32) | IG = 44; CG = 40 | Movement Games | 8 | 40 min | 3 times/week | inhibitory control:(Stroop test) |
| Chen et al. (2016) | China | RCT | 12.64 ± 70 | 50 (28/22) | IG = 25; CG = 25 | Aerobic exercise | 13 | 40 min | 4 times/week | Executive function:(WCST) |
| Gallotta et al. (2015) | Italy | RCT | / | 152 | IG = 83; CG = 69 | Coordinative exercises | 21 | 60 min | 2 times/week | Attention:(d2-test) |
M, man; W, woman; IG, intervention group; CG, control group; D2-test, D2-test of attention; MT, The Trail Making Test; D-KEFS, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System; TEA-Ch, Test of Selective Attention in Children; LCT, Letter Cancellation Test; RFFT, Ruff Figural Fluency Test; TAC, TAC Cancellation Attention Test; CAS, the Cognitive Assessment System; WCST, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.