The influence of exercise on cognitive functions in children with ADHD

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown the positive effects of exercise on cognitive functions and particularly on executive functions (EF). With EF being considered as one of the central deficits in ADHD, these children and adolescents can benefit from exercise in particular. In this survey article the current state of research on the influence of exercise on cognition in general and on EF in particular is being presented. Heterogeneous findings can be revealed and amongst other reasons be explained by too little differentiation of exercise. In order to answer the question which sports-specific features actually evoke certain cognitive effects, current developments in sports-specific cognition research on healthy children and adolescents are being discussed. In the final section a frame model adapted by Tomporowski, Lambourne, and Okumura (2011) is introduced. This working model comprises the identified mediators and moderators in the sport-cognition interrelation and is extended to apply to ADHD.