Exercise can reduce cognitive limitations in early premature babies: Study

Switzerland: Children born very preterm (born before 32nd week of gestation) show impaired response inhibition during their preadolescence compared to those born at full-term. A recent study in the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience has shown that exercise in these children might reduce cognitive control deficits in response inhibition. 

Children born before the 37th week of pregnancy remain under medical supervision while they are young. Cognitive limitations often disappear after a few years. However, children born before the 32nd week of gestation still exhibit differences even in their teenage years. The study showed that these children have weaker impulse control compared with children born at term (after the 37th week of pregnancy). This can have disadvantages in school performance and is linked to behavioral problems and a higher susceptibility to addiction.

Sebastian Ludyga, University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues examined the association between very preterm birth and neurophysiological indices of response inhibition (i.e. the N200-P300 complex) as well as the potential mediation of this association by aspects of physical fitness in this case-control study. 

For this purpose, the researchers compared a group of 54 very preterm children aged 9 to 13 years with a control group of children of the same age who had been born at term. To test impulse control, the sports scientists conducted a "go/no go" test with the children. When given a signal, the young study participants had to push a button as quickly as possible. When given a different signal, they were not allowed to push the button - in other words, they had to suppress their impulse to move.