Page 23 - Sember, Vedrana, and Shawnda A. Morrison. 2018. The Mind-Body Connection. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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Cognition Effects

Kramer, 2011), brain structure, cognitive abilities and brain function
(Sibley & Etnier, 2003; Castelli, Hillman, Buck, & Erwin, 2007; Chad-
dock et al., 2010).

Research findings in aging population studies showed that exer-
cise and physical activity are protective against cognitive decline,
especially working memory and executive planning (Kramer et al.,
1999; Van Boxtel et al., 1997). Physical activity may increase oxygen
saturation (Kramer et al., 1999) and angiogenesis (Kleim, Cooper, &
VandenBerg, 2002) in brain area responsible for task performance.
Several studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between
aerobic fitness and cognition (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003; Chaddock
et al., 2010). The prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus are the fo-
cus of many human studies of activity and neurocognition; molecu-
lar architecture and behavior of basal ganglia may be influenced by
physical activity (Chaddock et al., 2010). The prefrontal cortex is the
cerebral cortex in the front part of the lobe, containing Brodmann
areas 9, 10, 11, 12, 46 and 47 (Finger, 2001). The functions carried
out in prefrontal cortex are executive functions, such as planning
complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision mak-
ing, and moderating social behavior (Yang & Raine, 2009). The hip-
pocampus is located in the temporal lobe of each cerebral cortex.
Humans have two hippocampi, one in the left part of the temporal
lobe and the other in the right part of the temporal lobe. As part of
the limbic system, the hippocampus plays a major role in memory,
spatial memory, and navigation. Basal ganglia are situated at the
base of the forebrain. Principal components of the basal ganglia are
the dorsal striatum, ventral striatum, globus pallidus, ventral pal-
lidum, substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus. The basal ganglia
are primarily responsible for motor control, motor learning, execut-
ive functions and emotion (Lanciego, Luquin, & Obeso, 2012).

Chaddock et al. (2010) reported that exercise influences the stri-
atum by increasing dopamine signaling and angiogenesis. Children
with higher aerobic fitness levels showed less behavioral interfer-
ence to misleading and irrelevant flanking cues (Chaddock et al.,
2010). Their results supported that dorsal striatum is involved in
cognitive control, motor integration and response resolution (Aron,

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