Exercise and Cognition

The impact of sport and exercise on neurocognitive function

For decades, sports science has primarily focused on the effects of exercise on the periphery of the body. However, more recent research has shown that exercise also has positive effects on brain function - for example, improvements in attention and memory can be seen after exercise.

Our department is particularly interested in the interaction between exercise and the so-called executive functions, a group of abilities that underlie action control and decision-making. We try to answer which methods (e.g. endurance, strength or coordination training) are best suited to improve working memory, impulse control and cognitive flexibility and how people in different settings (school, recreational and competitive sports, healthy ageing) benefit from this.