Enhancement of Brain Functions Prompted by Physical Activity

The goal for this special edition of Progress in Brain Research extends beyond merely probing the yet-to-be-uncovered links between physical exercise and cognitive improvement. We aim to advance our knowledge, pushing the envelope of what is currently understood. We are particularly focused on how purposefully structured physical activities, carefully chosen participant groups, and specific cognitive areas can optimize the cognitive and mental health benefits derived from physical exercise. The inaugural volume of this series introduces 3 review articles and 7 original pieces of research, encompassing both behavioral experiments and neuroimaging studies. Our focus is on experimental research that sheds light on the immediate and long-term impact of physical exercise on cognition as well as expert opinions and systematic reviews that compile current findings and suggest avenues for upcoming research.

Dr. Chi-Hung Juan is a Chair Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University, Taiwan. He is fascinated by human brain functions and the potential to discover interventions for helping people with cognitive impairments. He majored in Psychology/ Behavioral Sciences for his Bachelor/Master degree at Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan. He went to the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK in 1998 to pursue his PhD degree. In 2002, He finished the PhD program and went to the Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, USA for his postdoctoral training on the neural mechanisms of visual cognition. In 2003, he returned to Taiwan and became one of founding members of the institute, where he has stayed to date. He applies eye-tracking, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), electroencephalography, and dynamic analytical methods to investigate human cognition across various groups of people. His lab has elucidated the neural mechanisms of visual attention/working memory/cognitive control and developed effective behavioral and NIBS interventional protocols. This has led to around 120 journal papers and 26 doctoral/postdoctoral graduates. Many former members have now established their own research groups worldwide.

Dr. Chun-Hao Wang is affiliated with the Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, and the Department of Psychology at National Cheng Kung University. His research focuses on examining the neurocognitive performance of elite athletes and developing integrated training programs that combine physical exercise and cognitive training. Additionally, Dr. Wang is dedicated to creating comprehensive body-mind fitness regimens and performs extensive analyses using both behavioural and neuroimaging methodologies.

Dr. Shih-Chun Kao is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Purdue University. The primary goal of Dr. Kao's research is to better understand the influence of health behavior and its associated biobehavioral correlates on human cognition and brain health. He is particularly interested in the acute and chronic effects of physical activity on behavioral and neuroelectric outcomes related to cognitive function during childhood and early adulthood. His research focuses include (1) the associations of different aspects of physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness) and motor competence with higher-order cognition such as executive function and memory, (2) the role of exercise parameters (e.g., mode, intensity, timing) on the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, (3) the development of multi-modal interventions combining physical activity and mindfulness that can be implemented and integrated into real-world settings (e.g. school, workplace) for facilitating attention, learning, work productivity, and brain health.