Researchers from the University of Tsukuba (Japan) found that the state of students during exercise indicates whether cognitive abilities and mood improve. The results of scientists’ studies were announced magazine NeuroImage.
Exercise, even at low intensity, can improve mood and improve cognitive performance. However, the exact neural activity that leads to increased executive functions as a result of exercise is still not fully understood. One option is to examine pupil responses that may reflect underlying neural activity.
The authors monitored the pupil size of 24 participants during 10 minutes of light exercise. Participants were then asked to solve a cognitive task; Scientists used neuroimaging to see how the brain responded to the test.
Physical activity helped participants perform better on a cognitive task, and this was associated with increased activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, an area associated with executive functions. What’s more, the wider people’s pupils dilate during light exercise, the greater the cognitive boost they receive.
The sample was too small, so scientists plan to repeat the experiment to confirm the results.
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