Regular physical exercise is associated with substantial health benefits. Recent evidence not only holds for cardiovascular effects promoting "physical health", but also for the central nervous system believed to promote "brain health”. Moderate physical exercise has been found to improve learning, memory, and attentional processing, with recent research indicating that neuroprotective mechanisms and associated plasticity in brain structure and function also benefit. Physical exercise is also known to induce a range of acute or sustained psychophysiological effects, among these mood elevation, stress reduction, anxiolysis, and hypoalgesia. Today, modern functional neuroimaging techniques afford direct measurement of the acute and chronic relation of physical exercise on the human brain, as well as the correlation of the derived physiological in vivo signals with behavioral outcomes recorded during and after exercise. A wide range of imaging techniques have been applied to human exercise research, ranging from electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to positron emission tomography (PET). All of these imaging methods provide distinct information, and they differ considerably in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, availability, cost, and associated risks. However, from a “multimodal imaging” perspective, neuroimaging provides an unprecedented potential to unravel the neurobiology of human exercise, covering a wide spectrum ranging from structural plasticity in gray and white matter, network dynamics, global and regional perfusion, evoked neuronal responses to the quantification of neurotransmitter release. The aim of this book is to provide the current state of the human neuroimaging literature in the emerging field of the neurobiological exercise sciences and to outline future applications and directions of research.

Sport and the Brain: The Science of Preparing, Enduring and Winning, Part C, Volume 240, reflects recent advancements in the understanding of how elite athletes prepare for, and perform at, peak levels under the demands of competition. Topics discussed in this new release include The influence of challenge and threat states on affect, perceived exertion, attention, and performance during a competitive sprint cycling task, Prior self-control exertion and perceptions of pain and task importance during a physically demanding task, Enhancing cardiac vagal activity in sport psychology, The influence of cardiac vagal activity on peripheral perception performance under pressure, and much more. - Takes a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on aspects of psychology, neuroscience, skill learning, talent development and physiology - Focuses on sports and the brain - Contains the expertise of an international panel of contributors - Adopts the novel approach of having a target article with critical commentaries on the lessons learned from British multiple gold medalists at Olympic and World Championships

The improvement of exercise performance in sports not only involves the enhancement of physical strength, but also includes the development of psychological and cognitive functions. There is an increasing body of evidence to show that physical exercise is a powerful way to improve a number of aspects of cognition and brain function at the systemic and behavioral levels. Yet, several questions remain: What type of exercise program is optimal for improving cognitive functions? What are the real effects of certain innovative exercise protocols on the relationship between behavior and the brain? To what extent do ergogenic aids boost cognitive function? How efficient are neuromodulation techniques in relation to behavioral performance? The answers to these questions likely require multidisciplinary insights not only from physiologists and sports scientists, but also from neuroscientists and psychologists. The manuscripts published (16 research papers and one perspective article from various academic fields) in this Special Issue Book “Exercise: A Gate That Primes the Brain to Perform” bring together current knowledge and novel directions in human exercise-cognition research dealing with performance. This book showcases the various relationships between cognitive function, brain activity, and behavioral performance with applications in sports and exercise science.

The field of lifestyle medicine, which is the study of how daily habits and actions impact on both short- and long-term health and quality of life, continues to expand globally. The scientific and medical literature that supports the success of these lifestyle habits and actions is now overwhelming. Thousands of studies provide evidence that regular physical activity, maintenance of a health body weight, following sound nutritional practices, stress reduction, and other good practices all profoundly impact both health and quality of life. Following its predecessors, Lifestyle Medicine, Third Edition, is edited by lifestyle medicine pioneer, cardiologist Dr. James Rippe. This edition has been thoroughly updated and represents the expert opinions of 20 section editors as well as more than 150 expert chapter authors whose knowledge span all aspects of this emerging discipline. Topics cover lifestyle medicine practices including regular physical activity, proper nutrition, and weight management. These principles are applied to the prevention and or treatment of a wide variety of chronic conditions ranging from heart disease and diabetes to cancer, mental health, addiction, and injury prevention. This book serves as evidence base for individuals who wish to practice lifestyle medicine or incorporate some of its principles into either general medicine or subspecialty practice. It provides valuable information to healthcare workers in the fields of nutrition, exercise physiology, psychology, behavioral medicine, health promotion, and public policy where lifestyle medicine principles play an ever-increasing role.

Exercise-Cognition Interaction: Neuroscience Perspectives is the only book on the market that examines the neuroscientific correlation between exercise and cognitive functioning. The upsurge in research in recent years has confirmed that cognitive-psychology theory cannot account for the effects of exercise on cognition, and both acute and chronic exercise effect neurochemical and psychophysiological changes in the brain that, in turn, affect cognitive functioning. This book provides an overview of the research into these effects, from theoretical research through current studies that emphasize neuroscientific theories and rationales. It addition, users will find a thorough examination of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive functioning in special populations, including the elderly, children, and those suffering from a variety of diseases, including schizophrenia, diabetes, and an array of neurological disorders. With contributions from leading researchers in the field, this book will be the go-to resource for neuroscientists, psychologists, medical professionals, and other researchers who need an understanding of the role exercise plays in cognitive functioning. - Provides a comprehensive account of how exercise affects brain functioning, which in turn affects cognition - Covers both theory and empirical research - Presents a thorough examination of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive functioning in special populations, including the elderly, children, and those suffering from a variety of diseases - Examines neurochemical, psychophysiological, and genetic factors - Covers acute and chronic exercise

The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology integrates the topics of motor control, physical education, exercise, adventure, performance in sports, and the performing arts, in several important ways and contexts, drawing upon diverse cultural perspectives. More than 90 overarching topics have been systematically developed by internationally renowned experts in theory, research, and practice. Each contribution delves into a thematic area with more nuanced vocabulary. The terminology drawn upon integrates traditional discourse and emerging topic matter into a state-of-the-art two-volume set. Volume 1: Theoretical and Methodological Concepts is comprised of theoretical topic matter, spanning theories and terminology from psychology contextualized to sport and physical activity, sport psychology-focused theories, and expansive discussions related to philosophy of science and methodology. Volume 2: Applied and Practical Measures draws upon practical concepts that bridge theory and research and practice. Broader issues that extend beyond sport and physical activity participants are embedded within the entries, intended to augment physical, mental, and social well-being. This expansive encyclopedia is a must-have resource for all professionals, scholars, and students in the fields of sport psychology and sport science.

A growing body of research evidence suggests that physical activity can have a positive effect on educational achievement. This book examines a range of processes associated with physical activity that are of relevance to those working in education – including cognition, learning, memory, attention, mood, stress and mental health symptoms – and draws on the latest insights from exercise neuroscience to help explain the evidence. With contributions from leading scientists and educationalists from around the world, this book cuts through the myths to interrogate the relationship between physical activity and educational achievement in children, adolescents and young adults in a variety of cultural and geographical contexts. Examining both the benefits and risks associated with physical activity from the perspectives of exercise science and educational psychology, it also looks ahead to ask what the limits of this research might be and what effects it might have on the future practice of education. Physical Activity and Educational Achievement: Insights from Exercise Neuroscience is fascinating reading for any student, academic or practitioner with an interest in exercise science and education.

The Exercise Effect on Mental Health contains the most recent and thorough overview of the links between exercise and mental health, and the underlying mechanisms of the brain. The text will enhance interested clinicians’ and researchers’ understanding of the neurobiological effect of exercise on mental health. Editors Budde and Wegner have compiled a comprehensive review of the ways in which physical activity impacts the neurobiological mechanisms of the most common psychological and psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This text presents a rigorously evidence-based case for exercise as an inexpensive, time-saving, and highly effective treatment for those suffering from mental illness and distress.

The premise of neuroplasticity on enhancing cognitive functioning among healthy as well as cognitively impaired individuals across the lifespan, and the potential of harnessing these processes to prevent cognitive decline attract substantial scientific and public interest. Indeed, the systematic evidence base for cognitive training, video games, physical exercise and other forms of brain stimulation such as entrain brain activity is growing rapidly. This Research Topic (RT) focused on recent research conducted in the field of cognitive and brain plasticity induced by physical activity, different types of cognitive training, including computerized interventions, learning therapy, video games, and combined intervention approaches as well as other forms of brain stimulation that target brain activity, including electroencephalography and neurofeedback. It contains 49 contributions to the topic, including Original Research articles (37), Clinical Trials (2), Reviews (5), Mini Reviews (2), Hypothesis and Theory (1), and Corrections (2).

Enhancement of Brain Functions Prompted by Physical Activity, Volume Two, Volume 286 in the Progress in Brain Research series, highlights new advances, with this updated volume presenting chapters on a variety of timely topics, including Predicting sports performance of elite female soccer players through smart wearable measurement platform, Physical activity and verbal memory performance: mediating effects of resting-state brain activity, Associations between physical activity, body composition, and cognitive performance among female office workers, Grip strength, working memory, and emotion perception in middle aged males, Association of aerobic fitness and grip strength with cognitive and academic performance in Arab children, and much more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in Progress in Brain Research series - Updated release includes the latest information on Enhancement of Brain Functions Prompted by Physical Activity