Spring Break
Univ. research cites cognitive benefits from physical activity
JOANN ANDERSON
Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: News
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New University research on children suggests exercise training has a positive relationship in enhancing cognitive functions, said Phil Tomporowski, an associate professor of kinesiology and director of the Cognition and Skill Acquisition Laboratory at the College of Education.
Tomporowski presented in the "Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Functioning in Children" lecture on Monday, which was sponsored by the Institute for Behavioral Research. Patricia Miller, the department head of psychology, and Jennifer McDowell, assistant professor of psychology, also presented.
The researchers studied young children, because the change in the effect of exercise on young adults can be difficult to determine.
In Tomporowski's research, 163 children ages 7 to 11 from the Augusta area were studied during periods of physical activity for 15 weeks.
Researchers set up vigorous exercise tasks for children to engage in, such as basketball, and found there may be a relationship between exercise and the enhancement of cognitive functions, which could lead to an increase in academic performance.
"It may be the case that children ... are sensitive to exercise's effects," he said.
However, a change in brain activity may not be correlated to brain performance, McDowell said.
In her research of measuring brain activity during exercise, she was able to find active brain areas in children ages 7 to 11.
Tomporowski plans to start a five-year study in July to determine the long-term changes in the children's exercise program.
The research will also focus on brain structure and anatomy and will be funded by a grant from the Institute of Health, he said.
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