The relationship between physical activity (PA) intensity and executive functions in older adolescents remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the associations between PA intensity, volume, attentional control, and working memory, and the moderating effects of sex, in older adolescents.We analyzed baseline data from 418 participants (211 females, MAfter controlling for AvACC, sex moderated the relationships between IG, and incongruent SDRT (B = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.94) and CVRT (B = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.22, 1.05; Ps ≤ 0.002). Only girls with higher IG showed smaller incongruent SDRT and CVRT (Bs ≤ -0.26, Ps ≤ 0.01). IG was not related to working memory. AvACC and MVPA were not related to attentional control or working memory.Our findings reveal a novel association between higher-intensity PA and superior attentional control among adolescent girls.
