Researchers from University College London and the Institute of Sport,
Exercise and Health recently ran a study investigating the relationship
between physical activity and cognitive performance. Between May 2021
and March 2023, researchers visited 12 Active Movement primary schools
to collect data. 340 pupils filled in a questionnaire about their activity
levels during school breaktimes, PE lessons, organised sports and outside
of school over a typical week. They then completed computerized cognitive
tasks measuring reaction time, sustained attention and inhibitory control.
Waist-to-height ratio, age, sex and socioeconomic status were also collected.

Data was analysed to understand how the self-reported physical activity
in different contexts (school breaktimes, PE lessons, organised sports
and outside of school) was associated with performance on the cognitive
tasks. Results found that children who said they were more active during
breaktimes made fewer errors on sustained attention and inhibition tasks.

This suggests that increasing breaktime activity may be a simple and
accessible way to boost children’s attention span and impulse control in
class.

The study has now been published in the International Journal of Sport
and Exercise Psychology.