Objective:

Research has demonstrated the benefits of chess for cognitive development. However, few studies have analyzed the effect of chess on the Executive Functions (FE) based on a model that evaluates each of the components of the construct, the purpose of this study was to analyze the differences in cognitive performance in tasks which assess work memory, inhibition, cogni tive flexibility, and planning between child chess practitioners and non-practitioners.

Method:

Through an ex post facto cross-sectional study, using a sample selected through an intentional non-probabilistic sampling, using the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to analyze differences in cognitive performance according to the practice of Chess. Sixty-five schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years old, of both sexes were divided into two groups according to the chess prac tice: (1) 30 active child practitioners and (2) 35 children with no experience with chess.

Results:

MANOVA revealed significant differences according to chess practice, in all FE analyzed in favor of practicing children. These data suggest that chess could be used as an effective strategy to favor the development of executive processes in childhood. The results are discussed according to their clinical and educational implications.

Conclusion:

In order to carry out future research, it would be relevant to study the effect of chess practice on EFs in adolescent and adult populations, in order to verify if the experience and age could explain, in part, the individual variations of execu tive functioning according to practice of chess.

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