The gap between how active people intend to be and how active they are is an issue that eludes researchers and lay people alike. Temporal Self-Regulation Theory suggests that executive functions play a role in explaining the intention-behavior gap. The executive function of task-switching may play a unique role in physical activity in that it may promote means-shifting, or changing the methods by which one approaches a goal. I tested whether the executive function of task-switching predicts greater physical activity, and explored a potential mediating pathway via means-shifting. I also sought to replicate the finding that inhibitory control predicts greater physical activity. A sample of 128 college students (73% female, mean age = 19.9) completed baseline measures, one test of inhibitory control (Go/NoGo) and three tests of task-switching ability, then logged exercise daily for 2 weeks. Means-shifting was operationalized as activity substitution, coded when participants adopted an alternate activity on a day they planned to do something but did not. Controlling for baseline physical activity, intentions, and time, the indirect effect of task-switching on physical activity via activity substitution was significant (b = 12.02, p

There is overwhelming evidence linking increased physical activity with positive changes in cognitive functioning and brain health. Much of what we know about these interrelationships comes from aerobic exercise training studies with older adults and children. This literature has paved the way for the neuroscientific investigation of mechanisms responsible for exercise-induced cognitive and brain health enhancement, a list that ranges from molecular changes to systemic changes in executive control and neural connectivity. A new perspective has also emerged that aims to understand executive control processes that may underlie the regulation of health behavior. In accordance with this view, physical activity falls under the umbrella of health behaviors that require a substantial amount of executive control. Executive control is a limited resource, and the aging process depletes this resource. People who regularly exercise are said to have higher “self-regulatory control”—planning, goal-shielding and impulse control—than irregular exercisers. The successful maintenance of physical activity participation in lieu of daily cognitive stressors likely reflects an adaptive resistance to control failures. Indeed, a handful of studies have shown the relationship between greater executive control and subsequently higher levels of physical activity. However, little is known about the neural correlates of physical activity adherence or sedentary behavior, with the view that neurocognitive factors have an antecedent and reciprocal influence on these behaviors. No research has focused on the brain networks responsible for the self-regulation of physical activity, which likely overlaps with structures and functions playing critical roles in the regulation of other health behaviors. Interdisciplinary investigations are needed to explain the extent to which physical activity self-regulation and self-regulatory failure is dependent upon, or under the influence of executive control processes and brain networks. Understanding the degree to which self-regulatory resources may be enhanced, restored, and trained will have enormous implications for basic science and applied fields. It is also of great import to understand whether or not physical activity self-regulation is a domain-specific behavior associated with specific brain networks, or to determine the extent to which regulatory network-sharing occurs. The aim of this Frontiers Research Topic is to curate contributions from researchers in social and cognitive neurosciences and related fields, whose work involves the study of physical activity behavior, self-regulation and executive control. For this Research Topic, we, therefore, solicit reviews, original research articles, and opinion papers, which draw theoretical or empirical connections related to sustained physical activity behavior, self-regulatory strategies, cognitive performance, and brain structure and function. While focusing on work in the neurosciences, this Research Topic also welcomes contributions in the form of behavioral studies, psychophysiological investigations, and methodological innovations. This Frontiers Research Topic will carve out new directions for the fields of exercise, cognitive, and social neurosciences. We hope you will consider submitting your work.

Exercise-Cognition Interaction: Neuroscience Perspectives is the only book on the market that examines the neuroscientific correlation between exercise and cognitive functioning. The upsurge in research in recent years has confirmed that cognitive-psychology theory cannot account for the effects of exercise on cognition, and both acute and chronic exercise effect neurochemical and psychophysiological changes in the brain that, in turn, affect cognitive functioning. This book provides an overview of the research into these effects, from theoretical research through current studies that emphasize neuroscientific theories and rationales. It addition, users will find a thorough examination of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive functioning in special populations, including the elderly, children, and those suffering from a variety of diseases, including schizophrenia, diabetes, and an array of neurological disorders. With contributions from leading researchers in the field, this book will be the go-to resource for neuroscientists, psychologists, medical professionals, and other researchers who need an understanding of the role exercise plays in cognitive functioning. - Provides a comprehensive account of how exercise affects brain functioning, which in turn affects cognition - Covers both theory and empirical research - Presents a thorough examination of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive functioning in special populations, including the elderly, children, and those suffering from a variety of diseases - Examines neurochemical, psychophysiological, and genetic factors - Covers acute and chronic exercise

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.

The premise of neuroplasticity on enhancing cognitive functioning among healthy as well as cognitively impaired individuals across the lifespan, and the potential of harnessing these processes to prevent cognitive decline attract substantial scientific and public interest. Indeed, the systematic evidence base for cognitive training, video games, physical exercise and other forms of brain stimulation such as entrain brain activity is growing rapidly. This Research Topic (RT) focused on recent research conducted in the field of cognitive and brain plasticity induced by physical activity, different types of cognitive training, including computerized interventions, learning therapy, video games, and combined intervention approaches as well as other forms of brain stimulation that target brain activity, including electroencephalography and neurofeedback. It contains 49 contributions to the topic, including Original Research articles (37), Clinical Trials (2), Reviews (5), Mini Reviews (2), Hypothesis and Theory (1), and Corrections (2).

Children and young people are often discussed as if they are homogenous groups. The reality is, of course, very different, with an enormous variation within each of these groups and in any domain of experience pertaining to childhood or adolescence. Driven by personal, sociocultural, geographic, or economic circumstances, many children and young people worldwide are experiencing a totally different reality to those who fit with more mainstream patterns of childhood. This has substantial implications for their sociophysical environmental experience and our understanding of their physical environmental needs. The aim of this book is to draw attention to these alternate realities for a number of these groups of children and young people, highlighting the unique and different considerations associated with their particular circumstances in each instance, and identifying the repercussions for their physical environmental needs. Ultimately, this book creates an evidence-based discussion which can be used by designers, planners and policy makers, and those delivering services and programs to children and young people as a basis to make informed decisions on how to work with the groups of children and young people in our book for better environmental provision.

The second edition of the popular Handbook of Self-Regulation of Learning and Performance responds to and incorporates the wealth of new research that the first edition inspired on the subject. At the same time, it advances meaningful perspectives on the scholarship and history that originally shaped the field. Divided into five major sections—basic domains, context, technology, methodology and assessment, and individual and group differences—this thoroughly updated handbook addresses recent theoretical refinements and advances in instruction and intervention that have changed approaches to developing learners’ capabilities to self-regulate in educational settings. Chapters written by leading experts in the field include discussions of methodological advances and expansions into new technologies and the role of learner differences in such areas as contexts and cultures. As a comprehensive guide to a rapidly evolving and increasingly influential subject area, this volume represents contemporary and future thinking in self-regulation theory, research, and applications. Chapter Structure – To ensure uniformity and coherence across chapters, each chapter author addresses the theoretical ideas underlying their topic, research evidence bearing on these ideas, future research directions, and implications for educational practice. Global – A significant number of international contributors are included to reflect the increasingly international research on self-regulation. Readable – In order to make the book accessible to students, chapters have been carefully edited for clarity, conciseness, and organizational consistency. Expertise – All chapters are written by leading researchers who are highly regarded experts on their particular topics and are active contributors to the field.

This book sums up key research findings, and theoretical and technological advances having a direct bearing on neuroergonomics. Neuroergonomics is an emerging area whose Neuroergonomics is an emerging area that is collectively defined as the study of human brain function and behaviour in relation to behavioural performance in natural environments and everyday settings. It helps readers to understand neural mechanisms of human cognition in the context of human interaction with complex systems, as well as understanding the change of perception, decision-making and training in humans. The authors give new insights into augmenting human performance, reflecting upon the opportunities provided through neuroergonomics research and development. Computer systems acting on data from behavioural-output, physiological, and neurological sensing technologies are used to determine the user’s cognitive state and adapt the systems to change, support, and monitor human cognition. Various domains and case studies delve into the field of neuroergonomics in detail. These include, but are not limited to: an evaluation of technologies in health, workplace, and education settings, to show the different impacts of neuroergonomics in everyday lives; assessment of real-time cognitive measures; dynamic casual interactions between inhibition and updating functions, through analysis of behavioral, neurophysiological and effective connectivity metrics; and applications in human performance modelling and assessment of mental workload, showing the reader how to train and improve working memory capacity. Neuroergonomics: Principles and Practice provides academic practitioners and graduate students with a single go-to handbook that will be of significant assistance in research associated with human factors and ergonomics, human-computer interaction, human-systems engineering and cognitive neuroscience.

The ageing of our population is a key societal issue across the globe. Although people are living longer, they need to be living longer in good health to continue to enjoy quality of life and independence and to prevent rises in health and social care costs. This timely and ground-breaking volume will provide an up-to-date overview of the factors that promote physical activity in later life. Despite advances in the fields of gerontology and geriatrics, sports and exercise science, sociology, health psychology, and public health, knowledge is largely contained within disciplines as reflected in the current provision of academic texts on this subject. To truly address the present and substantial societal challenges of population ageing, a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach is required. This handbook will inform researchers, students, and practitioners on the current evidence base for what physical activities need to be promoted among older people and how they can be implemented to maximise engagement. This handbook will be an invaluable resource for researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and students across the social sciences.