An Overview on Cognitive Function Enhancement through Physical Exercises

Abstract

This review is extensively focused on the enhancement of cognitive functions while performing physical exercises categorized into cardiovascular exercises, resistance training, martial arts, racquet sports, dancing and mind-body exercises. Imaging modalities, viz. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG), have been included in this review. This review indicates that differences are present in cognitive functioning while changing the type of physical activity performed. This study concludes that employing fNIRS helps overcome certain limitations of fMRI. Further, the effects of physical activity on a diverse variety of the population, from active children to the old people, are discussed.

Effect of 11 Weeks of Physical Exercise on Physical Fitness and Executive Functions in Children

“…Similarly, after 11 weeks of physical exercise, the EF in the PE group had also improved. Many studies have shown that physical exercise can effectively improve people’s cognitive function [ 38 , 39 ], which is consistent with the results of this study that physical exercise can improve the EFs of children. Li L et al provided neurological evidence for the moderating role of the left globus pallidus, which is a crucial structure for complex cognitive processing, in the positive effect of physical exercise on EFs, such as spatial learning and working memory.…”

Association of leisure activity changes and reversion from mild cognitive impairment to normal cognitive function among older adults: A prospective cohort study

“…Some evidence showed that household physical activity benefits the brain volume, especially the gray matter volume, which might delay the decline in memory function and executive control process among older adults ( 37 ). Physical activity, which might more directly contribute to the levels of brain structure and function than cognitive and social activities among older adults with MCI ( 38 , 39 ), may be able to stop the neuronal decline caused by age and aid in the growth of capillaries in the brain ( 40 ).…”

Effect of exercise on the memory of overweight or obese older adults: Systematic review

“…Para esta función, el ejercicio físico tiene un efecto específico según su intensidad. Por lo tanto, practicar ejercicio físico de moderada intensidad puede mejorar las funciones cognitivas y prevenir o retrasar el deterioro cognitivo, como lo demuestra el resultado del metaanálisis de esta revisión (45) . Debido al aumento de la función cognitiva que podría atribuirse al aumento del volumen de los núcleos basales, del hipocampo y a una mejor integridad de la sustancia blanca.…”