Adolescence, a period of transition between childhood and adulthood, undergoes substantial cognitive development associated with independent role in society. During this period, risk-taking behavior and various psychiatric disorders start to occur, for instance, substance use disorders, major depression disorder, and schizophrenia. Accumulative evidence demonstrates that adolescents’ brain development is characterized by multimodal integration of brain anatomical structures and function. On the contrary, the elderly experience age-related cognitive decline including impaired sustained attention, memory loss or impaired executive function, which is also characterized by dramatic changes in similar brain tissue (e.g., prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, superior temporal cortex) to support or compensate high-order cognition function. During these two crucial periods for neurological development, fitness may be a leading factor to influence brain development and cognitive outcomes. Fitness is a multifaceted concept composed of physical fitness (cardiovascular, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition) and motor fitness (balance, agility, speed, power, and coordination). Previous evidence demonstrated that low cardiovascular fitness level or sedentary behavior caused myopia, obesity, depression, insomnia, and high levels of stress. As brain network integration and neural efficiency are rapidly altered during this time, adolescents and old adults might be sensitive to intervention trials aiming to improve fitness level such as outdoor activity, aerobic exercise as well as mind-body practice.
In the research topic, we aim to extend the current understanding of the role of fitness in affecting structural and functional development of the brain and specific cognitive functions and emotional health in adolescents and old adults, especially from the neuroscientific perspective, and to explore the training interventions that may facilitate cognitive improvement during this time.
Review articles and original research including cross-sectional studies, experimental studies, and clinical trials are encouraged. Studies that involve mere behavior outcomes are also welcomed. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Neurological and behavioral studies investigating the association between fitness level and neurocognitive development/emotional health in healthy adolescents, old adults and clinical populations
- Various factors that modulate structural and functional development of the brain and cognitive functions in adolescents and old adults
- Individual differences in the moderating effect of fitness on brain development, cognitive and behavioral problems in adolescents and old adults
- Effect of different types of training interventions (e.g., physical exercise, structured curriculum of physical education, and sports activity) on brain development and cognitive functions in healthy adolescents and old adults as well as clinical populations
- Neurological and physiological mechanisms underlying fitness-related intervention on cognitive functions and emotional health in adolescents and old adults
- Experimental studies investigating the effect of different interventions on morphological changes, structural integrity, and functional connectivity in the brain utilizing neurophysiological measures and imaging techniques
- The effect of physical activity on treating psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia), mild cognitive impairment, and alleviating problematic behaviors such as high-fat diet, alcohol consumption, and internet addiction.
Adolescence, a period of transition between childhood and adulthood, undergoes substantial cognitive development associated with independent role in society. During this period, risk-taking behavior and various psychiatric disorders start to occur, for instance, substance use disorders, major depression disorder, and schizophrenia. Accumulative evidence demonstrates that adolescents’ brain development is characterized by multimodal integration of brain anatomical structures and function. On the contrary, the elderly experience age-related cognitive decline including impaired sustained attention, memory loss or impaired executive function, which is also characterized by dramatic changes in similar brain tissue (e.g., prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, superior temporal cortex) to support or compensate high-order cognition function. During these two crucial periods for neurological development, fitness may be a leading factor to influence brain development and cognitive outcomes. Fitness is a multifaceted concept composed of physical fitness (cardiovascular, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition) and motor fitness (balance, agility, speed, power, and coordination). Previous evidence demonstrated that low cardiovascular fitness level or sedentary behavior caused myopia, obesity, depression, insomnia, and high levels of stress. As brain network integration and neural efficiency are rapidly altered during this time, adolescents and old adults might be sensitive to intervention trials aiming to improve fitness level such as outdoor activity, aerobic exercise as well as mind-body practice.
In the research topic, we aim to extend the current understanding of the role of fitness in affecting structural and functional development of the brain and specific cognitive functions and emotional health in adolescents and old adults, especially from the neuroscientific perspective, and to explore the training interventions that may facilitate cognitive improvement during this time.
Review articles and original research including cross-sectional studies, experimental studies, and clinical trials are encouraged. Studies that involve mere behavior outcomes are also welcomed. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Neurological and behavioral studies investigating the association between fitness level and neurocognitive development/emotional health in healthy adolescents, old adults and clinical populations
- Various factors that modulate structural and functional development of the brain and cognitive functions in adolescents and old adults
- Individual differences in the moderating effect of fitness on brain development, cognitive and behavioral problems in adolescents and old adults
- Effect of different types of training interventions (e.g., physical exercise, structured curriculum of physical education, and sports activity) on brain development and cognitive functions in healthy adolescents and old adults as well as clinical populations
- Neurological and physiological mechanisms underlying fitness-related intervention on cognitive functions and emotional health in adolescents and old adults
- Experimental studies investigating the effect of different interventions on morphological changes, structural integrity, and functional connectivity in the brain utilizing neurophysiological measures and imaging techniques
- The effect of physical activity on treating psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia), mild cognitive impairment, and alleviating problematic behaviors such as high-fat diet, alcohol consumption, and internet addiction.
