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AIMS Neuroscience

2024, Volume 11, Issue 3: 244-259. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2024016
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The role of physical activity in the physiological activation of the scholastic pre-requirements

  • 1.
    Department of Psychology and Education, Pegaso University, 80100 Naples, Italy
  • 2.
    Heracle Lab Research in Educational Neuroscience, Niccolò Cusano University, 00166 Rome, Italy
  • Received: 30 March 2024 Revised: 08 August 2024 Accepted: 14 August 2024 Published: 19 August 2024

  • Physical activity during the developmental age is an indispensable tool for the physical and mental growth of children. Thanks to physical activity, individuals have the opportunity to improve their physical efficiency and promote better health, establish relationships with the environment and with others, and develop cognitive processes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and the development of scholastic prerequisites among kindergarten children. 52 children (aged 4–5) participated in either a classroom-based physical activity program (60′/3 days per week) or regular lessons. At the beginning and end of the intervention programs, a set of standardized motor evaluation tests and the Observational Questionnaire for the Early Identification of Learning Disabilities (IPDA) were administered. As a result, a meaningful Time x Group interaction for the IPDA Variable was observed. The aforementioned development denotes a noteworthy advancement within the treatment group (p < 0.001). Conversely, no substantial modification was noted in the control group. The findings derived from this study provide a foundational support to the concept that physical activity integrated into classroom settings is an effective strategy to improve both scholastic prerequisites and academic performance.

    Citation: Francesca Latino, Francesco Tafuri. The role of physical activity in the physiological activation of the scholastic pre-requirements[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2024, 11(3): 244-259. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2024016

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  • Physical activity during the developmental age is an indispensable tool for the physical and mental growth of children. Thanks to physical activity, individuals have the opportunity to improve their physical efficiency and promote better health, establish relationships with the environment and with others, and develop cognitive processes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and the development of scholastic prerequisites among kindergarten children. 52 children (aged 4–5) participated in either a classroom-based physical activity program (60′/3 days per week) or regular lessons. At the beginning and end of the intervention programs, a set of standardized motor evaluation tests and the Observational Questionnaire for the Early Identification of Learning Disabilities (IPDA) were administered. As a result, a meaningful Time x Group interaction for the IPDA Variable was observed. The aforementioned development denotes a noteworthy advancement within the treatment group (p < 0.001). Conversely, no substantial modification was noted in the control group. The findings derived from this study provide a foundational support to the concept that physical activity integrated into classroom settings is an effective strategy to improve both scholastic prerequisites and academic performance.



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    Funding


    No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this manuscript.

    Conflicts of interest


    The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

    Authors' contribution


    Author 1 designed the study, conducted the research, carried out the statistical analysis, interpreted the data, wrote, and revised the manuscript. Author 2 supervised the intervention program, collected data, was involved in the interpretation of data, and revised the manuscript. All authors contributed intellectually to the manuscript, and all authors have read the manuscript and approved the submission.

    Use of AI tools declaration


    The authors declare they have not used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of this article.

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