有氧运动对学龄前儿童执行功能的影响及机制：随机对照与影像学研究

The stage of early childhood is crucial in the development of executive function. Lower executive function in preschool children not only damage their learning ability, not also will lead to abnormal living condition and behavior habits through adulthood. Therefore, how to effectively promote the development of executive function in preschool children has become an important research topic. The current study shows , aerobic exercise can slow down the decline of executive function in older people. But there is no conclusive scientific evidences, such as randomized controlled trial, indicate aerobic exercise can promote the development of executive function in preschool children. Our previous study indicate a positive association between habitual physical activity and cognitive abilities in preschool children. So, the proposed study aims to examine the effect of aerobic exercise on executive function in preschool children through randomized controlled study, and follow up design after post intervention. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging will be used to explore the effect of aerobic exercise on brain network activity, further analysis will be conducted to examine the association between changes in brain network activity and changes in executive function performance after aerobic intervention. Results from this study may create physical activity recommendation for preschool children and reveal the neural mechanisms of aerobic exercise on executive function, which can provide theoretical basis for healthy development of brain in preschool children.

学龄前期是高级认知能力——执行功能发展的关键阶段，学龄前儿童执行功能低下不仅使其学习能力受损，还将导致成年后异常的生活状态和行为习惯。因此，如何有效促进学龄前儿童执行功能健康发展已成为重要研究课题。当前研究显示，有氧运动能减缓老年人群执行功能的衰退，但能否促进学龄前儿童执行功能发展，目前尚缺乏有力的科学证据，如随机对照试验证据。本课题组前期研究发现，日常体力活动水平与学龄前儿童认知能力表现显著正相关。在此基础上，本研究拟通过随机对照试验，研究有氧运动对学龄前儿童执行功能的影响，并在干预结束后继续追踪探索可能存在的持续效应。此外，通过静息态功能磁共振成像技术，研究有氧运动对执行功能脑网络的作用，并进一步分析有氧运动干预后脑网络变化与执行功能行为学变化之间的关系。研究结果不仅有助于指导运动实践，还将进一步揭示有氧运动对执行功能影响的神经机制，为有效促进学龄前儿童脑健康发展提供理论依据。

执行功能是个体的高级认知能力，是认知、情绪和社会功能的核心。现有研究表明有氧运动对儿童青少年执行功能有积极促进作用，但是否能促进学龄前儿童执行功能发展，还鲜有研究。本研究目的探讨有氧运动对学龄前儿童执行功能的影响。我们首先通过对346名学龄前儿童的身体活动及其认知能力表现的横断面调查，发现身体活动水平与认知能力表现显著正关联。在此基础上，我们在上海招募4所幼稚园的126名学龄前儿童（男童67名，女童59名；平均年龄4.89 ± 0.39岁）参与本项目，各有两所学校被随机分为高频和低频运动组，分别每周参加3次和1次的有氧运动课程，35分钟/次，共12周。运动干预后，再进行12周的随访。在实验前，运动干预后和12周随访后对受试者执行功能（包括抑制控制，工作记忆和认知灵活性）进行测试。研究结果发现，两组学龄前儿童的抑制控制、工作记忆功能均随时间的推移显著改善，而认知灵活性这一维度，仅有高频训练组的学龄前儿童发生显著改善，但高频和低频运动组间差异均不具有统计学意义（p>0.05）。本研究结果显示与每周1次的有氧运动干预相比，每周3次为期12周的有氧运动干预不足以显著改善学龄前儿童执行功能水平。未来研究需要进一步检验有氧运动对学龄前儿童执行功能的剂量-反应关系，以及验证不同运动方式对学龄前儿童执行功能的影响。