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Differences in cognitive flexibility between healthy weight and obese children: an ERP study (629.6)
Author(s) -
Khan Naiman,
Raine Lauren,
Drollette Eric,
Scudder Mark,
Pontifex Matthew,
Hillman Charles
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.629.6
Subject(s) - cognitive flexibility , cognition , executive functions , working memory , flexibility (engineering) , obesity , event related potential , task switching , aerobic exercise , medicine , task (project management) , psychology , audiology , developmental psychology , physical therapy , neuroscience , statistics , mathematics , management , economics
Obesity is associated with cognitive decline in later adulthood; however, the implication of obesity on childhood cognitive and brain health remains controversial. Accordingly, this study investigated the effect of weight status (healthy weight [HW] or obese [OB]) on behavioral and neuroelectric measures of cognitive control among 80 prepubertal children (8‐9‐years). HW (n=40) and OB (n=40) children completed a switch (cognitive flexibility) task while event‐related brain potentials were concurrently measured. Adiposity and aerobic fitness were assessed using DXA and VO 2max , respectively. Groups were matched on key covariates including age, sex, IQ, SES, fat‐free VO 2max , and ADHD. There were no differences in response accuracy or reaction time between groups on both the homogenous and heterogeneous trials. However, obese children exhibited greater global switch costs related to response accuracy. In addition, obese children displayed smaller central‐parietal P3 amplitude during heterogeneous trials, signifying decreased allocation of attentional resources. Given that global switch costs reflect efficiency of maintaining task sets in working memory as well as the selection of subsequent tasks, our findings indicate that obese children may exhibit lower cognitive flexibility when faced with greater executive function demands. Grant Funding Source : Supported by NIH HD055352