The influence of synchronous physical activity on brain plasticity and foreign language learning.

• Applicant: Dr. Maren Schmidt-Kassow
• Subject Area: General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: from 2010 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 162311519

Numerous studies have provided evidence that physical activity promotes cortical plasticity in the adult brain via enhanced levels of the messenger BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor). Furthermore, BDNF has been shown to correlate positively with performance during vocabulary learning. However, until now, the effect of synchronous physical activity (e.g. bicycling) on learning performance has not been investigated systematically. Recent data however suggest that the positive relationship between physical exercise and encoding in long-term memory can be enhanced further when learning and motor activity are synchronized, i.e. when synchronous motor activity increases the temporal predictability of to-be-memorized information. The current project aims at clarifying which kind of physical activity maximally facilitates long-term memory processing and which role the exact timing of activity plays. To answer this question we aim to combine approaches from different disciplines. Thus, we will assess structural changes of brain areas involved in vocabulary learning as well as electrophysiological responses to memorized materials. In addition, physiological parameters will be collected to obtain a comprehensive and detailed picture of the influence of synchronous physical activity on verbal learning.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants