Exergaming to enhance cognitive functions in children and adolescents?
Official URL
Abstract
Many children and adolescents in Europe are not reaching the recommended amount of physical activity, whilst sedentary screen time is increasing continuously. Since physical activity seems not only to impact physical health, but also cognitive functions (Lubans et al., 2016), innovative approaches to increase physical activity in children and adolescents are warranted. Assuming
that exergaming might have the potential to positively impact physical activity levels by replacing sedentary screen time, in the last decade, the interest in exergaming, or active video gaming, is growing. Exergaming is a portmanteau of "exercise" and "game" and refers to "digital games that require body movements to play, stimulating an active gaming experience to function as a form of physical activity" (Benzing & Schmidt, 2018). Since exergaming has shown to be able to increase physical activity levels, exergaming in children and adolescents may also benefit cognition. However, the available empirical evidence on the effects of exergaming on cognition in children and adolescents is very limited. Therefore, the aim of this presentation is to give an overview
of (a) our own studies as well as related research on acute and chronic exergaming, covering its impact on cognition in children and adolescents (including two longitudinal investigations on the effects of exergaming on cognitive performance in children with ADHD and childhood cancer survivors), and (b) to derive important factors on exergaming to enhance cognitive functions in
children and adolescents.
that exergaming might have the potential to positively impact physical activity levels by replacing sedentary screen time, in the last decade, the interest in exergaming, or active video gaming, is growing. Exergaming is a portmanteau of "exercise" and "game" and refers to "digital games that require body movements to play, stimulating an active gaming experience to function as a form of physical activity" (Benzing & Schmidt, 2018). Since exergaming has shown to be able to increase physical activity levels, exergaming in children and adolescents may also benefit cognition. However, the available empirical evidence on the effects of exergaming on cognition in children and adolescents is very limited. Therefore, the aim of this presentation is to give an overview
of (a) our own studies as well as related research on acute and chronic exergaming, covering its impact on cognition in children and adolescents (including two longitudinal investigations on the effects of exergaming on cognitive performance in children with ADHD and childhood cancer survivors), and (b) to derive important factors on exergaming to enhance cognitive functions in
children and adolescents.
Date Issued
2019-07
Publication Type
Conference Item
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Additional Credits
Title of Event
Access(Rights)
metadata.only