Donnerstag, 11. Januar 2018, 17:00 - 18:30 iCal
Vortrag von PD Dr. Kirsten Hötting (Uni Hamburg)
Beneficial effects of physical exercise on neuroplasticity and cognition
Fakultät für Psychologie, Hörsaal G, 2. Stock (linke Stiege)
Liebigasse 5, 1010 Wien
Vortrag
The human brain adapts to changing demands by altering its functional and structural properties (“neuroplasticity”) which results in learning and acquiring skills. Convergent evidence from both human and animal studies suggests that physical activity facilitates neuroplasticity of certain brain structures and, as a result, improves cognitive functions. I will present data of intervention studies conducted in our group on the effects of physical exercise in healthy young and middle-aged adults on cognition and brain plasticity.
For example, we studied effects of a six-month cardiovascular training (cycling) compared to a stretching/coordination training on cognitive functions and functional brain activations. The results showed that improving cardiovascular fitness had beneficial effects on memory functions and underlying neuronal networks. In a more recent project, we implemented a balance training program. After twelve weeks, participants of the balance training group, compared to a relaxation control group, significantly improved their dynamic balance performance. The changes in balance were accompanied by an increase in memory and spatial cognition. The results suggested that a physical exercise-related stimulation of the vestibular system might improve cognitive functions by activating pathways from the vestibular nuclei to the hippocampus and parietal cortex.
Veranstalter
Institut für Psychologische Grundlagenforschung und Forschungsmethoden
Kontakt
Abla Marie-Jose Bedi
Institut für Psycholgogische Grundlagenforschung und Forschungsmethoden
Forschungsmethoden
+43-1-4277-47104
abla.bedi@univie.ac.at
Erstellt am Montag, 08. Januar 2018, 14:37
Letzte Änderung am Dienstag, 09. Januar 2018, 11:56