Neuroelectric and psychological responses to exercise in cognitive impairment and age: impact of altered environments

Publication: Book/ReportDissertations

Abstract

Today, exercise is recommended to maintain the integrity of fundamental physiological systems concerning health. In the past decade neurophysiological and behavioural studies focussed on mental health, exploring additional beneficial effects of exercise in regard to duration, intensity, and individual preference. However, little is known about exercise-related neuroelectric responses in relation to cognitive performance and general wellbeing in health-affected humans; for example intellectual and developmental disabilities and the elderly. With respect to previous results, the designs of the five research projects that were integrated in the present cumulative doctoral thesis were based on the transient hypofrontality theory, the model of frontal asymmetry, a dose-response relationship and the exercise preference hypothesis. The leading research questions include: whether or not it is true that exercise benefits neurophysiological processes that relate to improved cognitive performance and wellbeing also in adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the elderly; and in this matter what impact altered environments (e.g., artificial gravity, virtual reality) may have from a neurophysiological perspective, that are suggested to prevent health deconditioning. The findings in Chapters I and II, which addressed adults and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, reveal a reallocation of frontal electrocortical activity following preferred moderate self-paced running or cycling exercise that are in line with the transient hypofrontality theory, mirroring a positive impact of exercise on mood (self-confidence, social acceptance) and cognitive performance (decision-making). The findings in Chapter III also suggest exerciserelated neurophysiological benefits that were characterized by shifts of frontal electrocortical activity, reflecting approachrelated processes in accordance to the model of frontal asymmetry. This eventually reflected wellbeing (perceived physical fitness and health) following preferred moderate self-paced walking among the elderly. However, the application of technologies that provide altered environments (artificial gravity, virtual reality) and are suggested to serve health deconditioning may be questioned from a neurophysiological perspective. Reasons are presented in the research approaches of Chapters IV and V. Comparing electrocortical activity of moderate self-paced cycling to artificial gravity exposure revealed exerciserelated benefits after cycling but not after balanced artificial gravity exposure. This was mirrored in cognitive performance (Chapter IV). In addition, the response of eventrelated brain potentials (N2) seems to adapt to conflicting processes during cycling in a virtual environment to avoid inefficiency in cognitive performance (Chapter V). To summarize, findings of the present cumulative doctoral thesis add to previous results which have shown that exercise has a temporal positive impact on neuroelectric responses in regard to cognitive performance and wellbeing. This is also true in cognitive impairment and age. Additionally, technologies, that are developed to serve the prevention of health deconditioning, need further investigation from a neurophysiological perspective. In fact, there is a necessity for longitudinal-section studies in the future that focus on kinesic behavioural, to verify possible benefits of exercise for the prevention of neurodegenerative processes throughout a human’s lifespan.
Translated title of the contributionNeuroelektrische und psychologische Reaktionen auf Training bei kognitiver Beeinträchtigung und im Alter: Einfluss veränderter Umgebungen
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationKöln
PublisherDeutsche Sporthochschule
Number of pages131
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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