Does physical exercise improve perceptual skills and visuospatial attention in older adults? A review

Muiños, Mónica; Ballesteros, Soledad

doi:10.1186/s11556-018-0191-0

Cited by 37 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 98 publications

(151 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, subgroup analysis according to varied types of mind‐body exercises demonstrated that only the tai chi group and the dance group had positive effects on cognitive flexibility, and other domains of executive cognition were less conclusive, suggesting that tai chi and dance mind‐body exercise were more sensitive in improving cognitive flexibility. These subgroup results were consistent with previous studies exploring dance or tai chi for their effects on executive functions in older adults …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…These subgroup results were consistent with previous studies exploring dance or tai chi for their effects on executive functions in older adults. 48,49 Language, learning, and memory are also essential factors for assessing cognitive performance. Our results suggested that mind-body exercises were beneficial for increasing the fluency of verbal language and promoting learning ability, especially tai chi, and dance exercise had an advantage in these terms.…”

Section: Summary Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Mind‐Body Exercises on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Meta‐Analysis

Zheng

et al. 2018

J American Geriatrics Society

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Mind‐body exercise has positive effects on cognitive performance, according to clinical observation and experts’ recommendations. However, its potential benefits for the cognitive function of aging adults are uncertain and still lack systematic estimations. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the overall efficacy and effectiveness of mind‐body exercises for cognitive performance in aging individuals with or without cognitive impairment. DESIGN A systematic review and meta‐analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We searched related trials through June 2018 from four databases: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO (all via Ovid), and the Cochrane Library/Central Register of Controlled Trials. MEASUREMENTS Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A meta‐analysis of comparative effects was performed using Review Manager v.5.3 software, and publication bias was examined using Egger's test. RESULTS A total of 32 randomized controlled trials with 3624 participants were ultimately included in this meta‐analysis. The results revealed that mind‐body exercises as a whole had benefits in improving global cognition compared with that of the control group (mean difference [MD] = 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.33‐1.51; p = .002) and were more effective than control interventions in promoting cognitive flexibility (MD = −8.80; 95% CI = −15.22 to −2.38; p = .007), working memory (MD = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.01‐0.64; p = .05), verbal fluency (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.27; 95% CI = 0.09‐0.45; p = .003), and learning (SMD = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.10‐0.39; p = .001) on cognitively intact or impaired older adults. In dose‐subgroup analysis, only moderate exercise intensity (60‐120 min per week) significantly increased global cognition scores compared with those of the control group (MD = 1.15; 95% CI = 0.34‐1.97; p = .006). CONCLUSION Mind‐body exercises, especially tai chi and dance mind‐body exercise, are beneficial for improving global cognition, cognitive flexibility, working memory, verbal fluency, and learning in cognitively intact or impaired older adults. Moderate intensity is recommended as the optimal dose for older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:749–758, 2019.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Summary Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Mind‐Body Exercises on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Meta‐Analysis

Zheng

et al. 2018

J American Geriatrics Society

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“…Several studies have indicated that children and adolescent who spend more time in physical activities have better academic performance than those who are sedentary ( Ayers and Sariscsany, 2010 ). Researchers suggesting that young people may improve mental acuity, skills, and strategies through physical exercise ( Donnelly et al, 2016 ) and supports the idea that cognitive performance improves with physical exercise that makes adolescents more efficient on reaction time tasks and more flexible on attention-orientation tasks ( Muiños and Ballesteros, 2014 , 2018 ; Alesi et al, 2016 ; Zach and Shalom, 2016 ; Burns et al, 2017 ; Kashfi et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, a well-managed physical exercise may facilitate certain aspects of information processing in children and adolescent ( Tomporowski et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Effects of a Coordinative Ability Training Program on Adolescents’ Cognitive Functioning

2021

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The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week coordinative ability training program on adolescents’ cognitive functioning, using evaluation tests of visuospatial perception, attention, and working memory. We randomly assigned 60 public school students (14–15 years) to either an experimental coordinative abilities training (∼40 min twice/week) group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30) who received general psycho-physical wellness training (∼40 min., twice a week). At baseline and after training we used two standardized motor tests and a single cognitive measure (Corsi’s Block-tapping test) to assess students’ visuospatial perception, attention, and working memory. We found a significant Time x Group interaction for the Throwing and Catching Test and Corsi’s Block-Tapping test, reflecting a meaningful experimental group improvement (p < 0.001), and there were no significant pre-post changes found in the control group. Thus, a 12-week program of coordinative abilities was able to improve not only coordination skills but aspects of cognitive functioning relevant to academic achievement.

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“…In this study, he participated as a special reference and was not examined using statistical analysis. Recent research has demonstrated that older martial arts athletes (judo and karate) perform better than non-athletes of the same age in the investigation of peripheral vision and perceptual asymmetry tasks (Muiños and Ballesteros, 2014 ), and physical activities including martial arts can improve peripheral vision properties in older individuals [for a review, see (Muiños and Ballesteros, 2018 )]. It was invaluable that Shihan who are awarded the eighth Dan and Hanshi title, which is the highest attainable rank in Japan (with over 40 years prior kendo experience, but acceptant rate is below 1%), participated in this study, and the data regarding his visual behavior is extremely valuable, not only for science but also in the practical domain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using “Enzan No Metsuke” (Gazing at the Far Mountain) as a Visual Search Strategy in Kendo

Kato

2020

Front. Sports Act. Living

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In Kendo (Japanese fencing), "Enzan no Metsuke" is an important Waza (technique) that is applied by expert Kendo fighters. It involves looking at the opponent's eyes with "a gaze toward the far mountain," taking in not only the opponent's face but also his or her whole body. Over the last few decades, a considerable number of studies on visual search behaviors in sport have been conducted. Yet, there are few articles that examine visual search behaviors in combat sports, such as martial arts. This study aimed to analyze the visual search strategies used by expert Kendo fighters through sparring practices to discuss what "Enzan no Metsuke" is under experimental, but natural (in situ), conditions. Ten experts, 10 novices, and one Shihan (a master of Kendo) participated in this study. The fighters wore a mobile eye tracker and faced a real opponent. They were instructed to do the following in five different sessions: prepare themselves, practice their offense and defense techniques, and fight in a real Shiai (match). The results indicated differences in the visual search strategies between the Shihan, experts, and novices. The Shihan and experts fixated on their opponent's eyes or head region most of the time and adopted a visual search strategy involving fewer fixations of longer duration. Conversely, novices set their eyes mainly on the opponent's Shinai (sword). Only the Shihan always looked at the opponent's eyes, even during the preparation, offense, and defense sessions. Shihan and experts set their "visual pivot" on the opponent's eyes quietly, even when the opponent tried to attack with the Shinai. Novices, however, moved their eyes up and down based on the influence of their opponent's movements. As these results indicate, novices tried to search for detailed information about their opponent and processed visual information depending on their focal vision, whereas Shihan and experts absorbed information not from their opponent's eyes but from their entire body by utilizing their peripheral vision; this means that Shihan and experts could see an opening or opportunity and react instantaneously by using "Enzan no Metsuke."

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Does physical exercise improve perceptual skills and visuospatial attention in older adults? A review

Cited by 37 publications

References 98 publications

Effects of Mind‐Body Exercises on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Meta‐Analysis

Effects of Mind‐Body Exercises on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Meta‐Analysis

Effects of a Coordinative Ability Training Program on Adolescents’ Cognitive Functioning

Using “Enzan No Metsuke” (Gazing at the Far Mountain) as a Visual Search Strategy in Kendo

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