title: School sport--a neurophysiological approach.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify neurophysiological correlates for previously reported positive effects of exercise on academic achievement in school children using a distributed source localization algorithm. Electro-cortical activity of 11 school children (9-10y) was recorded before and after a moderate 15-min bike exercise. Data were analyzed using standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) in the alpha (7.5-12.5Hz) and beta (12.5-35Hz) frequency range. We were able to show a significant increase in alpha activity post-exercise, which could be localized in the precuneus. Moreover a distinct decrease in beta activity could be noticed post-exercise in left temporal areas including Wernicke's area. We propose that apart from health-promoting aspects school sport serves a second even more important challenge. On a central level a well observed overall state of physical relaxation after exercise is reflected by a more synchronized state in the precuneus. We speculate this to be responsible for an increase in concentrativeness and cognitive function post-exercise. Moreover a previously reported increase in academic achievement post-exercise could be directly linked to exercise induced neuroplasticity in regions that are relevant for language processing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Germany. schneider@dshs-koeln.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frysch
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guardiera
authors.forename: Heiko K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Strüder
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001611:Beta Rhythm; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D055366:Synaptic Potentials