Effects of Physical Exercises with Varying Levels of Cognitive Engagement on Executive Functions of the Elderly:Evidence from Behaviors and fNIRS
Objective:To investigate the effects of physical exercises with varying levels of cognitive engagement on executive functions of the elderly and their brain activation characteristics.Methods:Using a 3×2 mixed experimental design,51 elderly participants are randomly assigned to three groups:High Cognitive Engagement(HCE)exercise group,Low Cognitive Engagement(LCE)exercise group,and a control group.The HCE and LCE exercise groups engage in moderate-intensity physical exercises three times a week for 60 minutes over 12 weeks,with different exercise content.No interventions are administered to the control group.Before and after the interventions,participants in all three groups undergo Stroop,1-back,More-odd shifting tests and fNIRS data collection.Results:1)Inhibitory function:shorter correct response time and increased prefrontal activation are observed in the incongruent condition of the Stroop task in both the LCE and HCE groups;2)Refreshing function:shorter correct response time and increased prefrontal activation are seen in the 1-back task in both the LCE and HCE groups;3)Switching function:shorter correct response time and increased prefrontal activation are noted in the More-odd shifting mixed task in the HCE group.Conclusions:1)Physical exercises involving low cognitive engagement enhance inhibitory and refreshing functions of the elderly by augmenting activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal lobe.2)Physical exercises with high cognitive engagement enhance inhibitory,refreshing,and switching functions in the elderly by increasing activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal lobe,right insula,right deltoid and right dorsolateral prefrontal lobe.
level of cognitive engagementexecutive functionphysical exercisethe elderlyaging
万方数据
维普
