Deck 13: Cognitive Function and Exercise

Question 1

How is cognitive function defined? In what ways can it be measured?

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

Describe why the hippocampus is an important brain structure in terms of cognitive function.

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

Describe "executive control" and the kinds of tasks that are often used in its assessment.

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

Describe at least two different ways in which brain structure is altered with long-term exercise.

Question 5

What is the main argument of the selective improvement hypothesis?

Question 6

Which of the following scientists conducted the systematic classic reaction time studies that essentially began the research into exercise and cognitive function?

A) Edward McAuley
B) Waneen Spirduso
C) Arthur Kramer
D) Robert Dustman

Question 7

Work examining the effects of exercise on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia has shown which of the following?

A) No effect of exercise
B) Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing AD
C) Exercise can help improve cognitive function in individuals suffering from AD
D) Both B and C

Question 8

As a type of cognitive function, "executive control" seems to be influenced the most by exercise. Which of the following is a measure of executive control?

A) Eriksen flanker task
B) Task switching
C) Stroop Color and Word test
D) All of the above

Question 9

Which of the following are often included in descriptions of executive control processes?

A) Planning and scheduling
B) Task consolidation
C) Long-term memory
D) Single-task processing

Question 10

Observational studies allow for the determination of mechanisms underlying the exercise-cognitive function relationship.

Question 11

Kramer et al.'s (1999) intervention study showed that a 6-month exercise program, specifically walking, compared to a stretching/flexibility intervention:

A) Resulted in response times that were not different from the stretching group
B) Led to significant changes in performance on tasks requiring "executive control"
C) Had a non-significant effect on cognitive function
D) Resulted in better long-term memory

Question 12

Exercise interventions, like the 6-month walking program of Kramer et al., have been shown to:

A) Increase brain volume (e.g., gray, white matter)
B) Increase ventricle size within the brain
C) Increase atrophy within the brain
D) All of the above

Question 13

Which brain structure is most important in memory, specifically spatial memory?

A) Frontal cortex
B) Amygdala
C) Hippocampus
D) Limbic system

Question 14

Often the most important aspects of brain activity that are examined in an event-related potential paradigm are:

A) Latency, amplitude
B) Latency, P300
C) P300, amplitude
D) Background brain activity

Question 15

Which of the following are characteristics of the P300?

A) It occurs approximately 300 milliseconds after a stimulus is presented
B) It reflects the allocation of attentional resources
C) It reflects updating of memory
D) All of the above

Question 16

Using an event-related paradigm, studies have shown that older adults, particularly those who are sedentary, show which of the following?

A) Shorter (i.e., faster) P300 latencies
B) Longer (i.e., slower) P300 latencies
C) Smaller P300 amplitudes
D) Both B and C

Question 17

There is no evidence that acute exercise facilitates cognitive processing.

Question 18

In a study conducted by the California Department of Education, what was found?

A) No relationship existed between physical fitness and academic achievement.
B) 5th and 7th graders who were more fit performed better on standardized academic achievement tests.
C) 1st and 3rd graders who were more fit performed better on standardized academic achievement tests.
D) A small but positive relationship between fitness and academic achievement was found for 5th, 7th, and 9th grade students .

Question 19

A number of possible mechanisms have been put forth to explain how exercise might improve cognitive function. Which of the following involves a nerve growth factor that has been shown to prominently affect the hippocampus?

A) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
B) Endorphins
C) Angiogenesis
D) Synaptogenesis

Question 20

The hypothesis that proposes that exercise resulting in improved cardiorespiratory fitness fosters more specific as opposed to generalized improvements in cognitive function is known as which of the following?

A) Selective improvement hypothesis
B) Cardiovascular fitness hypothesis
C) Anthropological hypothesis
D) Dual-mode hypothesis