Physical Exercise and Cognitive Development: Influence of Training Modalities and Characteristics

Physical exercise has been shown to relate to cognitive performance in a diverse range of populations, including children. Evidence has also indicated that the link is at least partly causal, with exercise interventions bringing a myriad of benefits to cognitive development. However, not all types of exercise regimens appear to be created equal—recent findings suggest that although ubiquitous, aerobic exercise might benefit from added components, either in terms of training modalities or cognitive demands. Here, I briefly review evidence for the general impact of physical exercise on cognitive development, before focusing in more detail on recent trends in exercise-induced cognitive enhancement. In particular, I emphasize the importance of exercise intensity, and argue that, given time constraints, aerobic exercise might not always be an optimal way to target the brain. I then discuss the potential for including additional components within exercise regimens, to enable more general, far-ranging, improvements. Finally, I conclude with a number of recommendations to facilitate the translation of research findings into practical situations.