Jungyun Hwang

VII. THE HISTORY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RESEARCH: INFORMING THE FUTURE

The study of physical activity, physical fitness, and academic performance research are reviewed from a historical perspective, by providing an overview of existing publications focused on children and adolescents. Using rigorous inclusion criteria, the studies were quantified and qualified using both meta-analytic and descriptive evaluations analyses, first by time-period and then as an overall summary, particularly focusing on secular trends and future directions. This review is timely because the body of literature is growing exponentially, resulting in the emergence of new terminology, methodologies, and identification of mediating and moderating factors. Implications and recommendations for future research are summarized.

Acute high-intensity exercise-induced cognitive enhancement and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in young, healthy adults.

Acute exercise can positively impact cognition. The present study examined the effect of acute high-intensity aerobic exercise on prefrontal-dependent cognitive performance and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Fifty-eight young adults were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: (a) an acute bout of high-intensity exercise (n=29) or (b) a non-exercise control (n=29). Participants in the exercise group improved performance on inhibitory control in Stroop interference and on cognitive flexibility in Trail Making Test (TMT) Part-B compared with participants in the control group and increased BDNF immediately after exercise. There was a significant relationship between BDNF and TMT Part-B on the pre-post change following exercise. These findings provide support for the association between improved prefrontal-dependent cognitive performance and increased BDNF in response to acute exercise. We conclude that the changes in BDNF concentration may be partially responsible for prefrontal-dependent cognitive functioning following an acute bout of exercise.

Health Indices and Cognitive Performance in Emerging Adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of health indices with cognition in emerging adults. Methods: Methods included collecting measures of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), arterial stiffness, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), and cognitive performance from fourteen participants. Cognitive performance was assessed through the administration of Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Stroop Color-Word Test, and Trail Making Test A & B. CRP was commercially measured using the hsCRP Enzyme Immunoassay kit. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by the VO2 maximal testing using incremental stages on a cycle ergometer, while arterial stiffness and pulse wave velocity were measured using two identical transcutaneous Doppler flowmeters. Results: ANOVA calculations revealed gender differences in cardiorespiratory fitness and BMI. Pearson correlations Surprisingly, in this sample, CRP was not significantly related to BMI. Multiple regression analyses, using Stroop tests as the dependent variable while controlling for IQ and BMI, evidenced that CRP negatively and cardiorespiratory fitness positively contributed to cognitive performance for multiple conditions of the Stroop conditions. No single factor significantly predicted cognitive performance on the Trail Making test. Conclusions: Despite being at the developmental peak, CRP and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with cognitive performance in emerging adults. On the Stroop task, CRP level significantly predicted cognitive performance reaction time tasks. These findings are valuable because identifying how health risks are related to cognition at this stage of lifespan may help us to better understanding how to maintain cognitive health and minimize premature cognitive decline as we age.