Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 25136

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Manuel Moya-Ramon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Sports Science, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Interests: monitoring training loads; heart rate variability; youth athletes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Eduardo M. Cervelló

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Sport Sciences. Sports Research Centre, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Interests: cognitive function; exercise; motivation; well-being; learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Diego Pastor

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Sport Sciences, Sports Research Centre, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Interests: exercise; cognition; aging; neurodegenerative disease; stem cells; DEA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide information on the effects of Physical Activity, Sedentary lifestyle and Fitness on cognitive function and well-being. This is a topic that is currently of concern to the scientific community, since it is a process that extends throughout people's lives. It is undoubted that the practice of organized physical activity (controlling the frequency, duration, intensity and type of exercise) is related to well-being, healthy lifestyles and improved health. Sedentary behavior is influenced by personal beliefs, physical characteristics, and other related behaviors (frequency or regular participation in physical activities) and its negative effects on general health are also a source of concern. Fitness can be considered a physiological state of well-being that reduces the risk of hypokinetic diseases, and it is a basis for participation in sports and allows for good health to complete the tasks of daily life. The focus has been recently placed on the relationship between physical activity, lifestyle and fitness on cognitive processes in different populations. Cognitive processes include mental processes that contribute to perception, memory, intelligence and action. The present Special Issue will accept original research and systematic reviews.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Healthcare.

Dr. Manuel Moya-Ramon
Prof. Dr. Eduardo M. Cervelló
Dr. Diego Pastor
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

physical activity
lifestyles
fitness
cognitive function
well-being

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

4 pages, 295 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Physical Exercise and Cognitive Function

by Diego Pastor, Juan Arturo Ballester-Ferrer, Laura Carbonell-Hernández, Sabina Baladzhaeva and Eduardo Cervello

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9564; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159564 - 03 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2922

Abstract

Cognitive skills are relevant predictors of academic achievement, employability, socioeconomic success, health, and longevity [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

14 pages, 4231 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Acute Sprint Interval Training on the Cognitive Performance of Male Basketball Players: An Investigation of Expertise-Related Differences

by Egemen Mancı, Fabian Herold, Erkan Günay, Çağdaş Güdücü, Notger G. Müller and Cem Ş. Bediz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4719; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064719 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1543

Abstract

Highly developed cognitive abilities are an important prerequisite for reaching elite athletic levels. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an acute sprint interval training (SIT) session on the cognitive performance of amateur and elite players. Eighteen amateur and ten elite male basketball players were included in this study. They were asked to perform an acute SIT consisting of the Wingate Test (i.e., four bouts of 30 s all-out sprints) on a cycle ergometer, interspersed with 4 min of active recovery. Before and after the acute SIT, three cognitive tests (i.e., Change Detection Test, Timewall Test, Mackworth Clock Test) were performed. Exercise-induced changes in cognitive performance and between-group differences were analyzed. We did not observe significant between-group differences in the performance of any cognitive test at the pretest, but elite basketball players outperformed the amateur players in specific measures of the Change Detection Test and Timewall Test after the acute SIT (p < 0.05). In addition, for the Clock Test, only the elite basketball players’ performance improved from pre- to posttest. The current study’s findings suggest that male elite basketball players, compared to amateur basketball players, can preserve their cognitive performance after an acute bout of SIT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1921 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of a Single Bout of Chinese Archery on Core Executive Functions in Preadolescent Children in Shanghai

by Jianjun Liu, Surasak Taneepanichskul, Bo Zhang and Peter Xenos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021415 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1627

Abstract

Background: Recent literature has demonstrated that acute physical activity benefits the transfer of executive functions. However, further studies indicated the type of variability in the effect of physical activity on executive functions. Therefore, this study initially explored the effect of a single bout of Chinese archery on subdomains of core EFs in preadolescent children; Method: Eligible participants were allocated either an intervention group (n = 36) or a control group (n = 36). The subjects in the intervention group received a 45-min Chinese archery session. The primary outcomes were the performance of core EFs (inhibition control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) in preadolescent children, assessed with psychological paradigms (Fish Flanker Task, N-Back Task, and DCCS (Border version), respectively). Paired t-test and ANCOVA were used to analyze the mean difference in the performance of core EFs within and between subjects, respectively; Results: Considering reaction time and accuracy, we explored the impressive performance in three cognitive tasks with acute Chinese archery; Conclusion: The finding suggests that a single bout of Chinese archery benefited three subdomains of core EFs in healthy preadolescent children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 639 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Is the Relationship between Trunk Control Function and Arm Coordination in Adults with Severe-to-Moderate Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy?

by María Isabel Cornejo, Alba Roldan and Raul Reina

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010141 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1743

Abstract

Adults with tetraparesis cerebral palsy (i.e., wheelchair users) tend to experience more accelerated ageing, resulting in physical deterioration that increases the impact of the disability, leading to a loss of mobility that interferes with people’s daily activities and participation in the community. The aim of this work is to study the relationship between trunk control and the function of the less-affected arm in this population. For this purpose, 41 para-athletes were invited to participate in this study, performing five tests to assess upper limb coordination, two tests to assess manual dexterity [i.e., Box and Block Test (BBT) and Box and Ball Test (BBLT)] and three tests to assess intra-limb coordination in different planes. Trunk control was assessed in both static and dynamic sitting conditions. The results show moderate correlations between static postural control and manual dexterity tests in the BBT (r = −0.553; p = 0.002) and BBLT (r = −0.537; p = 0.004). Large correlations were also found between static postural control and intra-limb tasks in horizontal (r = 0.769; p = 0.001) and vertical movements (r = 0.739; p = 0.009). Better static trunk control is related to a better upper limb function in the sagittal plane. Considerations and implications are explained in the manuscript. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 9931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of a Cognitive Function and Social Skills-Based Digital Exercise Therapy Using IoT on Motor Coordination in Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disability

by Seung-Bo Park, Yumi Ju, Hyunjin Kwon, Heeok Youm, Min Joo Kim and Jinwook Chung

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416499 - 08 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1938

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of a virtual reality exercise program based on cognitive function and social skills on motor coordination in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Thirty-five children with IDD were randomly assigned to either the cognitive function and social skills-based virtual reality exercise system (CS-VR) group or the conventional virtual reality exercise system (C-VR) group. Before and after the intervention, each participant was tested for motor coordination (extended horizontal jump, hop, stationary dribble, overarm throw) and exercise performance (standing long jump, YMCA step test). Compared with the C-VR group, the CS-VR group showed significant improvements in motor coordination in terms of extended horizontal jump, hop, and overarm throw (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively). In addition, compared with the C-VR group, the CS-VR group showed a significant increase in standing long jump (p < 0.01), although no significant between-group variation was found in stationary dribble and recovery heart rate (RHR) as part of the YMCA step test (p > 0.05, and p > 0.05, respectively). These results suggest that for the development of motor skills in children with IDD, it is essential to develop an exercise program that reflects the levels of cognitive functions and social skills of these children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sport Participation and Academic Performance in Young Elite Athletes

by Tania Pinto-Escalona, Pedro L. Valenzuela, Irene Esteban-Cornejo and Óscar Martínez-de-Quel

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15651; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315651 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4635

Abstract

Strong evidence supports physical activity and fitness levels being positively associated with cognitive performance and overall academic performance in youth. This also applies to sports participation. However, whether participation in sports at the elite level is associated with greater academic performance remains unknown. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the academic performance of young elite athletes to that of control students, as well as to analyze whether the type of sport mediates these results. Between 2010 and 2019, all students from the last Baccalaureate course of the Spanish Elite Sport High School—which also includes non-elite athletes and recreational athlete students, who were categorized as controls—participated in this study. Academic performance was assessed through both the grade point average of the two last Baccalaureate courses and through the average grades from the University Entrance Examinations. Athletes were categorized attending to different sport classifications. A total of 1126 adolescents (570 girls, 18.2 ± 0.6 years) participated in the study, of which 483 and 643 were categorized as elite athletes and control students, respectively. Elite athletes attained a lower overall academic performance than controls (p < 0.001), which was confirmed for both sexes (p < 0.001). These differences were separately confirmed for most academic subjects (p < 0.05), as well as when attending to different sport classifications (all p > 0.05). Young elite athletes attained a lower academic performance than their non-elite peers, regardless of their type of sport. These findings highlight the importance of programs aimed at facilitating dual careers among young elite athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Different Exercise Types Produce the Same Acute Inhibitory Control Improvements When the Subjective Intensity Is Equal

by Laura Carbonell-Hernandez, Juan Arturo Ballester-Ferrer, Esther Sitges-Macia, Beatriz Bonete-Lopez, Alba Roldan, Eduardo Cervello and Diego Pastor

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9748; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159748 - 08 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1776

Abstract

Twenty-eight active older people (67.19 ± 4.91 years) who engaged in physical exercise activity twice a week were recruited to participate in a counterbalanced experimental protocol. The participants performed three different exercise sessions on three different days, one based on aerobic activities, one based on strength exercises with elastic bands, and one based on stationary balance games. During all three sessions, they were encouraged to maintain a moderate subjective intensity (5–6 on the RPE10 scale), and their heart rate was recorded. In addition, all of the participants took a digital version of the Stroop test before and after each session. The study aimed to compare the acute cognitive impacts of different types of exercise sessions in older adults. The participants’ heart rate differed between the exercise sessions, but they maintained the RPE intensity. There was a significant improvement in inhibitory control (Stroop test) after all sessions, with no differences between exercise sessions. Moreover, some participants agreed to be genotyped to record the single nucleotide polymorphism of BDNF rs6265. There were no differences between Val/Val and Met carriers at the beginning or end of the exercise sessions. The present study showed similar cognitive improvements with different exercise type sessions when the subjective intensity was maintained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

20 pages, 2507 KiB

Open AccessReview

Does Exercise Training Improve Cardiac-Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity in Sedentary People? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

by Antonio Casanova-Lizón, Agustín Manresa-Rocamora, Andrew A. Flatt, José Manuel Sarabia and Manuel Moya-Ramón

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13899; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113899 - 26 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2722

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the training-induced effect on cardiac parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity, assessed by resting heart rate variability (HRV) and post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR), in sedentary healthy people. Electronic searches were carried out in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Random-effects models of between-group standardised mean difference (SMD) were estimated. Heterogeneity analyses were performed by means of the chi-square test and I² index. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed to investigate the influence of potential moderator variables on the training-induced effect. The results showed a small increase in RMSSD (SMD₊ = 0.57 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.23, 0.91]) and high frequency (HF) (SMD₊ = 0.21 [95% CI = 0.01, 0.42]) in favour of the intervention group. Heterogeneity tests reached statistical significance for RMSSD and HF (p ≤ 0.001), and the inconsistency was moderate (I² = 68% and 60%, respectively). We found higher training-induced effects on HF in studies that performed a shorter intervention or lower number of exercise sessions (p ≤ 0.001). Data were insufficient to investigate the effect of exercise training on HRR. Exercise training increases cardiac PNS modulation in sedentary people, while its effect on PNS tone requires future study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Review

14 pages, 3962 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Function in People with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

by Shiyan Zhang, Kai Zhen, Qing Su, Yiyan Chen, Yuanyuan Lv and Laikang Yu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15700; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315700 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5172

Abstract

A growing body of research has examined the effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but the findings of the available studies were conflicting. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in AD patients. Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases from the inception of indexing until 12 November 2021. Cochrane risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included literature. From 1942 search records initially identified, 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered eligible for systematic review and meta-analysis. Included studies involved 503 participants in 16 exercise groups (mean age: 69.2–84 years) and 406 participants (mean age: 68.9–84 years) in 15 control groups. There was a significant effect of aerobic exercise on increasing mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score in AD patients [weighted mean difference (WMD), 1.50 (95% CI, 0.55 to 2.45), p = 0.002]. Subgroup analyses showed that interventions conducted 30 min per session [WMD, 2.52 (95% CI, 0.84 to 4.20), p = 0.003], less than 150 min per week [WMD, 2.10 (95% CI, 0.84 to 3.37), p = 0.001], and up to three times per week [WMD, 1.68 (95% CI, 0.46 to 2.89), p = 0.007] increased MMSE score significantly. In addition, a worse basal cognitive status was associated with greater improvement in MMSE score. Our analysis indicated that aerobic exercise, especially conducted 30 min per session, less than 150 min per week, and up to three times per week, contributed to improving cognitive function in AD patients. Additionally, a worse basal cognitive status contributed to more significant improvements in cognitive function. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Effect of Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Fitness on Cognitive Function and Well-Being

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (9 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI