Effect of Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́n on Children’s Executive Functions and Processing Speed
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This study examined whether structured engagement of Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́nỌlọ́pọ́Ọlọ́pọ́n, a traditional board game, could enhance children’s executive functions and processing speed. Eighty-two elementary school children were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 41) or an intervention group (n = 41) from the same peri-urban school. Executive functions (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) and processing speed were assessed using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery before and after a six-week intervention. Children in the intervention group played Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́nỌlọ́pọ́Ọlọ́pọ́n three times a week for 20 minutes, whereas the control group engaged in normal unstructured activities. Results from the non-parametric analyses showed pre-post gains in both groups. However, children in the intervention group showed significantly greater gains than children in the control group across inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed. These findings showed that structured engagement with Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́nỌlọ́pọ́Ọlọ́pọ́n can improve core cognitive skills in elementary school children and highlight the potential of culturally grounded traditional games as low-cost, scalable cognitive interventions in low-resource contexts.
