Examining the relationships among adolescent health behaviours, prefrontal function, and academic achievement using fNIRS. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Papasideris, Mia; Ayaz, Hasan; Safati, Adrian B.; Morita, Plinio P.; Hall, Peter A.
• Is Part Of: Developmental cognitive neuroscience. Volume 50(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: PFC -- Cortex -- Academic achievement -- Adolescents -- fNIRS -- Health behaviours; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; 612.8233
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2021.100983
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-9293

Abstract

Highlights: Prior studies document effects of lifestyle behaviors on the brain and academics. Among adolescents we found that activity and eating both predict task performance. Activity also predicts functional activation in the right lateral dlPFC, but not grades. Substance use predicted worse grades but not brain-related mediators. Abstract: Several adolescent health behaviours have been hypothesized to improve academic performance via their beneficial impact on cognitive control and functional aspects of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The primary objective of this study is to examine the association between lifestyle behaviours and academic performance in a sample of adolescents, and to examine the extent to which activity within the PFC and behavioural indices of inhibition may mediate this relationship. Sixty-seven adolescents underwent two study sessions five days apart. Sleep and physical activity were measured using wrist-mounted accelerometry; eating habits, substance use and academic achievement were measured by self-report. Prefrontal function was quantified by Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) performance, and task-related activity via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Higher levels of physical activity predicted higher MSIT accuracy scores ( β = .321, ρ = 0.019) as well as greater activation within the right dlPFC ( b = .008, SE = .004, ρ = .0322). Frequency of fast-food consumption and substance use were negatively associated with MSIT accuracy scores ( β = −0.307, ρ = .023) and Math grades ( b = −3.702, SE = 1.563, ρ = .022), respectively. Overall, the results of this study highlight the importance of lifestyle behaviours as predictors of prefrontal function and academic achievement in youth.