Video of PowerPoints with Synchronized Audio (WMV video)

Available in two formats:
Digital Download - $18
CD-ROM - $23

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS A MEANS TO ENHANCE COGNITION AND BRAIN FUNCTION

Arthur F. Kramer, Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Departments of Psychology, Neuroscience, and the Institute of Aviation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL, USA

The workshop will review research conducted in our laboratory, and the field in general, which has examined the extent to which physical activity and fitness training enhances cognition and brain structure and function of different groups of individuals. The large and expanding literature that has examined the cellular and molecular basis of fitness training effects in animal models will be discussed.  The workshop will also cover both cross-sectional and intervention studies of fitness differences and fitness training effects in humans. Studies which assess cognition via both behavioral measures and non-invasive neuroimaging measures, such as magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, event-related brain potentials, and the event-related optical signal, will be reviewed and discussed.  Finally, I will explore the gaps in the human and animal literature on cognitive and brain health and the manner in which they can be addressed in future research.  By the completion of the course the learner will: (1) be familiar with the human and animal literature on physical activity and exercise on cognition and brain structure and function, and (2) be able to articulate the gaps in the literature on exercise effects on cognition and brain.