TITLE:
Research Progress on Physical Exercise Interventions for Executive Function in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
AUTHORS:
Yuanyuan Liu
KEYWORDS:
Physical Exercise, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Executive Function, Intervention
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: The executive dysfunction theory posits that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit deficits in executive function (EF), adversely affecting their individual development, school readiness, and academic achievement. Emerging evidence suggests that physical exercise can effectively improve EF in children with ASD. This article systematically reviews studies on physical exercise interventions for EF in children and adolescents (aged 3 - 18 years) with ASD. Existing interventions are categorized into five types based on exercise modality: ball sports, martial arts, combat sports, acute exercise, and game-based exercise. Through an age-stratified analysis of research evidence within each category, this review elucidates the current state, efficacy, and limitations across different developmental stages (preschool, school-age, and adolescence). The underlying neural mechanisms are also discussed, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the progress in exercise-based EF interventions for ASD and inform the development of early motor intervention strategies.