{
  "abstract": "Objective: To estimate the effects of exercise interventions lasting at least 4 weeks on overall executive function and its three domains in adolescents, and to explore differences across population subgroups.\n\nMethods: Nine databases were systematically searched. Individually randomized parallel-group trials of adolescents aged 10–19 years comparing exercise with no additional structured exercise were included. Dependent Hedges’ g estimates were synthesized using three-level models with approximate within-trial covariance and trial-clustered CR2 inference. Risk of bias and evidence certainty were assessed using RoB 2 and GRADE.\n\nResults: Twenty-two independent trials (1,599 unique participants) contributed 27 comparisons and 86 effect sizes. The pooled overall EF effect favored exercise (g = 0.55, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.77; p < 0.001), with substantial total heterogeneity (I² = 84.92%). Domain-specific estimates also favored exercise: inhibitory control (17 trials; g = 0.56, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.84), working memory (10 trials; g = 0.51, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.84), and cognitive flexibility (nine trials; g = 0.43, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.57). The overall estimate was more heavily informed by inhibitory-control scores (47/86) than by working-memory (25/86) or cognitive-flexibility scores (14/86). Correlation, trial-exclusion, risk-of-bias, and task-classification sensitivity analyses retained effects in the same direction. Certainty was low for overall EF, inhibitory control, and working memory, and moderate for cognitive flexibility.\n\nConclusion: Sustained exercise may improve performance on EF tasks in adolescents, but heterogeneous interventions and controls, overlapping task constructs, and mostly low-certainty evidence limit the generality and real-world interpretation of the pooled effects.\n\nSystematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261475826 , identifier CRD420261475826",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Physical Education, Yunnan Minzu University",
    "School of Education, Yunnan Minzu University",
    "School of Physical Education, Yunnan University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dongying Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shixian Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Min Yao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Sihong Ye"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kun Geng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Liyong Zhou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lulu Niu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bv8h8hvznvv2q.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1968917",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "bv8h8hvznvv2q",
  "issns": [
    "1664-0640"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1968917/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2737|Physical Activity and Health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223914014",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1968917/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-27",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bv8h8hvznvv2q.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:18Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1968917",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1968917/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2737|Physical Activity and Health",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Effects of exercise interventions on executive function in adolescents: a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials",
  "title_text": "Effects of exercise interventions on executive function in adolescents: a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bv8h8hvznvv2q",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Psychiatry",
  "versions": []
}