ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Physical exercises are known not only to have a physical effect but also an enhancement effect on cognitive functions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of physical exercise on cognitive processes and discuss its mechanism from the viewpoint of brain activity change. Twelve healthy male students were recruited as subjects from UOEH, Japan. A simple reaction task and a selective reaction task using the computer were used to evaluate cognitive function. Subjects were requested to perform a cycle ergometer exercise for 20 min at 65% exercise intensity of maximal oxygen uptake. The change of blood oxygen concentration at the frontal cortex was measured by NIRS during the experiment as an index of brain activity. Physical exercise shows many effects on cognitive function. Each process, cognition and decision-making, reaction shows a different effect of physical exercise. It seems that the change of blood flow at the frontal cortex by physical exercise affects the cognitive function.
