E70: 🧠 Exercise cognition research — Examining how physical activity shapes the brain

Beyond the obvious benefits exercise has on your body, research shows that it has powerful benefits on your brain, too—like improved memory, attention, and processing speed.

Simon Schaerz (Exercise Science instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic), David Selles (Physical Education student from the University of Lethbridge), and Tyler Duffy (Exercise Science student at Lethbridge Polytechnic) discuss exercise cognition and its profound impacts on the brain—specifically, on executive functioning.

Exercise cognition research could also be pivotal in helping prioritize physical education (PE) programs—especially in K-12, where PE's importance can often be minimized.

During the show, guests and host (Craig) mention:

• Lethbridge Polytechnic 
  • Exercise Science Program 
    • Exercise-physiology class 
    • Research Methods in Kinesiology class 
  • DCM Program 
• University of Lethbridge 
  • Physical Education Program 
• Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey 
• Embodied Cognition Theory 
• Central Governor Model and Fatigue 
• Cerebral hemodynamics 
• Synaptogenesis 
• Physical Activity and the Development of Executive Function in Healthy Children: A Bioecological Perspective by Simon Schaerz 
• Pedagogical knowledge model: 
  • Content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and curricular knowledge 
• Progressive overload 
• Executive Function
• Zone of Proximal Development
• HPEC: Health & Physical Education Council 
• SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council 
• ECSS: European College of Sports Science
• Tyler's games to promote executive functioning:
  • Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Pattern Pursuit
  • Red Light, Green Light