Additional exercise regimens in schools - Effects on brain activity during a cognitive inhibition task

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Henning Budde
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: from 2011 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 208516527

With this research proposal we aim to deepen the understanding of underlying brain mechanisms related to the exercise-cognition link in 9-10 year old children. Although electroencephalography (EEG) studies have provided information on how exercise might influence cognition at the neural level, it is still unknown whether the variation of the exercise regimen (cardiovascular vs. motor exercise) has an impact on event-related potentials (ERPs) related to specific aspects of executive function in primary school children. Therefore, cross-sectional and longitudinal EEG data were collected in addition to the financed parameters in the DFG-project (Zusätzliche Bewegung in der Schule - Effekte auf Kognitionsleistungen, emotionale Befindlichkeit und Steroidhormone; DFG - BU 1837/5-1). The electrophysiological data were gathered during a cognitive inhibition task before and after a 10-week cardiovascular or motor exercise intervention (this was not part of the first DFG-funding). These data have yet to be processed and analyzed. Our assumptions are that there are differences between high-fit and low-fit aerobically and motor trained children regarding their cognitive performance and the neural processes underlying inhibitory control. Furthermore, we expect that there will be differences between the two fitness types in favor of the motor exercise group. By combining behavioral measures with electrophysiological data of brain activity in real-time we aim to further elucidate which of the neural processes associated with inhibitory control are modulated by different exercise types in children.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Mirko Wegner