From Reaction to Prediction: Effects of Anticipation-Driven Training on Behavioural Self-Regulation and Reactive Agility in Children

Abstract

Despite growing evidence, anticipation-based mechanisms remain underexplored in school settings, especially among Arab populations. The purpose of this research study was to determine whether an anticipation-based locomotor training program affected behavioural self-regulation and reactive agility in primary school-aged children,  using a cluster-randomised controlled trial design. Of the 338 participants in 10 schools who participated in the study, there were two groups: one group (n = 168) was assigned to the experimental condition, and one group (n = 170) was assigned to the control condition. The experimental group received an 8-week treatment that consisted of three sessions per week, with each session including significantly altered visual and auditory stimulus presentations designed to stimulate predictive processing skills as well as quick decision-making ability under temporal constraints. Behavioural self-regulation was evaluated with the HTKS-R, and reactive agility was measured using a Y-test. Group and time interactions were statistically significant at p<0.05, indicating that the experimental group had significantly improved HTKS-R scores and lower measurable reactive agility times than the control group. It appears that embedding anticipatory demands within a structured physical activity may improve children's cognitive-motor performance.