The relationship between cognitive ability and physical fitness in preschool children

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between cognitive and physical fitness in preschool children. A choice reaction time test (even condition, winning condition) and a physical fitness test were conducted on 156 healthy preschool children aged 4 to 6 years old (75 boys, 81 girls). Choice reaction times were measured using a specialized “Paper, Rock, and Scissors” device (an original model manufactured by Takei Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd.) which can record the duration of time it takes (to one hundredth of a second) from the time a picture of a hand gesture representing either paper, rock, or scissors is displayed on a monitor to the moment when a preschool child reacts to the picture by pressing the button in front of him or her. Five trials were conducted for each of the three conditions: even and winning. Excluding both maximum and minimum values, the average time recorded for the remaining three trials were used as evaluation parameters. physical fitness test (grip strength, standing long jump, softball throwing, 25m run, side-stepping, timed dipping, sit and reach) were conducted once. T-scores were calculated from each test, and used as evaluation parameters. A significant correlation between each choice reaction time test and physical fitness test were found (boys; even condition: r = -0.30, winning condition: r = -0.35, girls; even condition: r = -0.31, winning condition: r = -0.31, p < 0.05).

These results suggest that cognitive and physical fitness are weak related.