Physical activity and cognition in children:
Meta-analysis on exercise and cognitive function: Literature on the link between child exercise and cognitive function was reviewed in this meta-analysis that identified 44 such studies that yielded 125 comparisons for analysis. The overall effect size (ES) of 0.32 indicated that physical activity was significantly related to improved cognition in children. Physical activity improves a youth’s perceptual skills, intelligence quotient, achievement, verbal tests, mathematic tests, developmental level and academic readiness. Effect size was largest for tests of perceptual skills (ES=0.49), followed by IQ (ES=0.34), and then math tests (ES=0.20) and verbal tests (ES=0.17). The effect of physical activity was greatest for middle school and young elementary age children (ES=0.40). (62)