Furthermore, decline in cognitive flexibility is associated with advancing age. Cognitive flexibility is important for sustaining or shifting attention, and being able to switch between tasks in response to different demands. In order to gauge the effects of physical activity on cognitive flexibility, the P3 component is useful in order to examine the effects of physical activity on cognitive flexibility. Hillman et. al (2006) conducted a study that examines this relationship using the switching paradigm. The switching paradigm uses 3 different conditions which include, a repeated task trial in task homogenous blocks, a switch trial in task-heterogeneous blocks and non-switch repeated task trials in task heterogeneous blocks. In the first
…show more content…
This effect was not seen in the homogeneous condition since the relationship between physical activity and processing was shown only when working memory and cognitive flexibility were required. This finding implies that a positive relationship exists between physical activity and cognitive flexibility. Therefore, physically active individuals use their attentional resources more effectively, and also process and switch between tasks more quickly. Another study examined by Tsai and Wang (2015), explored different physical exercise modes on task-switching performance in the elderly. The two modes are categorized into types, open skills (such as basketball and tennis), and closed skill (eg. swimming, running). Open skills are activities that require constant sustaining and shifting attention, and are considered externally-paced since the environment is unpredictable. Closed skills are more habitual and are self-paced. This study is important because it provides evidence that different forms of fitness contribute to different cognitive …show more content…
Such studies suggest that cognitive decline in aging may be due to impairment of brain plasticity (Carvalho et. al, 2014). Brain regions involved in executive functions are expected to decay more dramatically than other brain regions. For example, loss of white and grey matter volume plays a significant role in cognitive decline. Age-related loss in regions of the brain important for executive functioning can be spared by an active lifestyle. Colcombe et. al (2004) conducted a study that examined the effects of physical activity on brain structure in older adults between the ages of 60-79. Half the participants received aerobic exercise for 6 months and the other group received toning and stretching exercises. Results of this experiment indicated that white and grey matter volumes increased in adults that engaged in 6-month physical activity, specifically in areas that engage in top-down control of memory and attention, such as the parietal and frontal lobes. This suggests that engaging in physical activity enhances the brain structure and function across the lifespan. Furthermore, observing brain activation levels of participants performing a task using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) can provide further evidence about the effects of aerobic fitness and cognition. The approach is based on inferring
This effect was not seen in the homogeneous condition since the relationship between physical activity and processing was shown only when working memory and cognitive flexibility were required. This finding implies that a positive relationship exists between physical activity and cognitive flexibility. Therefore, physically active individuals use their attentional resources more effectively, and also process and switch between tasks more quickly. Another study examined by Tsai and Wang (2015), explored different physical exercise modes on task-switching performance in the elderly. The two modes are categorized into types, open skills (such as basketball and tennis), and closed skill (eg. swimming, running). Open skills are activities that require constant sustaining and shifting attention, and are considered externally-paced since the environment is unpredictable. Closed skills are more habitual and are self-paced. This study is important because it provides evidence that different forms of fitness contribute to different cognitive …show more content…
Such studies suggest that cognitive decline in aging may be due to impairment of brain plasticity (Carvalho et. al, 2014). Brain regions involved in executive functions are expected to decay more dramatically than other brain regions. For example, loss of white and grey matter volume plays a significant role in cognitive decline. Age-related loss in regions of the brain important for executive functioning can be spared by an active lifestyle. Colcombe et. al (2004) conducted a study that examined the effects of physical activity on brain structure in older adults between the ages of 60-79. Half the participants received aerobic exercise for 6 months and the other group received toning and stretching exercises. Results of this experiment indicated that white and grey matter volumes increased in adults that engaged in 6-month physical activity, specifically in areas that engage in top-down control of memory and attention, such as the parietal and frontal lobes. This suggests that engaging in physical activity enhances the brain structure and function across the lifespan. Furthermore, observing brain activation levels of participants performing a task using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) can provide further evidence about the effects of aerobic fitness and cognition. The approach is based on inferring