Associations between physical activity, motor skills, executive function and EEG in preschoolers

According to the embodiment theory of development, motor and cognitive development co-occur in early childhood (Gottwald et al., 2016). An abundance of research has especially focused on the co-development of motor skills and executive functioning (Spedden et al., 2017). Executive function refers to a cognitive process that involves the combination of working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility and is closely related to attention and problem solving (Diamond & Lee, 2011). Executive function has also been related to electrophysiological data in preschool aged children (e.g., Broomell & Bell, 2018). However, little is known about how physical activity may impact executive function as well as the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying these changes cognition. A systematic review of the literature proposed the idea that the reason physical activity impacts executive functioning skills is that most physical activity involves complex motor tasks (Best, 2010). Other researchers have focused on the influence of physical activity on brain activation as the potential mechanism for improved executive function (Best, 2010; Best & Miller, 2010). There is a lack of consensus on how and why executive function, physical activity, frontal activation, and motor skills relate as well as limited understanding in the literature on how physical activity and motor skills may impact the development of executive function, especially in lower socioeconomic populations. This study aimed to gain insight into the relationship among these variables and determine what mechanisms may be responsible for gains in executive function during this age range. Preschool participants (N=66) were recruited from Head Start programs located in Jackson and Haywood counties. Parents who consented completed the Pre-PAQ, Vineland-3, and a demographic questionnaire while teachers completed the BRIEF-P in February of 2022. In May of 2022, preschool participant’s completed executive