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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.

Psychology --- Muscle fatigue --- voluntary activation --- self-control --- performance --- motivation --- exercise physiology --- cognition --- high intensity interval training --- moderate intensity continuous exercise --- exercise training --- transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) --- whole-body movement --- motor system --- muscle strength --- high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) --- foot muscle strength --- passive ankle kinesthesia --- static balance --- exercise --- executive functions --- core symptoms --- children --- autism spectrum disorders --- personalized training --- personalized medicine --- exercise prescription --- inhibition --- basketball --- playing positions --- Go/NoGo --- event-related potential --- volition --- brain structure --- sense of agency --- sport --- MRI --- brain regulation --- physical performance --- cognitive performance --- supplementation --- sprint start --- cerebral oxygenation --- ventral-lateral-prefrontal-cortex --- caffeine --- prolonged intermittent exercise --- exercise performance --- acute aerobic exercise --- declarative memory --- procedural memory --- coding period --- consolidation period --- resistance training --- barbell training --- strength training --- HIFT --- neurocognition --- effort --- exertion --- obesity --- inhibitory control --- aerobic exercise --- resistance exercise --- aging --- cardiovascular exercise --- fronto-parietal network --- neuroimaging --- motor performance --- priming tDCS --- cathodal --- multiple sessions --- motor learning --- neuroplasticity --- n/a

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This reprint represents the articles published in the Special Issue “Brain Function and Health, Sports, and Exercise”. Fifteen articles were published, with topics covering the relationship between acute effects of exercise on cognitive function, as well as the influence of exercise on positive medium-term adaptations in populations as children, youth, adults and older. We think that the different approaches used in the different articles will help the readers to have a greater overview of the current research in brain and exercise.

aerobic exercise --- creativity --- convergent thinking --- divergent thinking --- flexibility --- insight problem-solving --- cognitive functions --- mood --- vigor --- pleasure --- open-skill exercises --- closed-skill exercises --- cognition --- older adults --- physical activity --- sleep --- inhibitory performance --- mediating effects --- exercise --- attention --- attentional bias --- arousal --- randomized controlled trials --- non-randomized controlled trials --- cross-over studies --- systematic review --- meta-analysis --- video exercises --- attitudes --- online platform --- Brain Breaks® --- handgrip strength --- hypertension --- China --- international physical activity questionnaires --- alternate uses test --- antisaccade --- oculomotor --- task-evoked pupil dilation --- vision --- diffusion tensor imaging --- fractional anisotropy --- inhibitory control --- aerobic fitness --- early adulthood --- long-rope jumping --- 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol --- 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid --- soccer --- sports --- depressive symptoms --- mental health --- brain --- exercise intensity --- executive function --- motor expertise --- balance --- spatial cognition --- high altitude --- cardiorespiratory fitness --- stress --- amygdala --- hippocampus --- physical exercise --- cognitive exercise --- simultaneous training --- healthy aging --- cerebral oxygenation

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

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.

Psychology --- Muscle fatigue --- voluntary activation --- self-control --- performance --- motivation --- exercise physiology --- cognition --- high intensity interval training --- moderate intensity continuous exercise --- exercise training --- transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) --- whole-body movement --- motor system --- muscle strength --- high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) --- foot muscle strength --- passive ankle kinesthesia --- static balance --- exercise --- executive functions --- core symptoms --- children --- autism spectrum disorders --- personalized training --- personalized medicine --- exercise prescription --- inhibition --- basketball --- playing positions --- Go/NoGo --- event-related potential --- volition --- brain structure --- sense of agency --- sport --- MRI --- brain regulation --- physical performance --- cognitive performance --- supplementation --- sprint start --- cerebral oxygenation --- ventral-lateral-prefrontal-cortex --- caffeine --- prolonged intermittent exercise --- exercise performance --- acute aerobic exercise --- declarative memory --- procedural memory --- coding period --- consolidation period --- resistance training --- barbell training --- strength training --- HIFT --- neurocognition --- effort --- exertion --- obesity --- inhibitory control --- aerobic exercise --- resistance exercise --- aging --- cardiovascular exercise --- fronto-parietal network --- neuroimaging --- motor performance --- priming tDCS --- cathodal --- multiple sessions --- motor learning --- neuroplasticity