ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief review of the literature linking physical exercise and cognition, with a specific focus on cognitive development. It discusses components of exercise that appear to influence this relation, such as exercise modalities and activity properties. Physical exercise has long known to be associated with a myriad of benefits, including protective effects against a range of conditions including stroke, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Beyond the general trend linking physical exercise to brain function and cognition, other research has further explored how varying components of exercise affect its impact on brain and mind. The idea that complexity is key to learning and brain development is supported by animal models, showing, for instance, that combining mental and physical training helps ensure neuronal recruitment and overall mental health, to a greater extent than either mental training or physical exercise in isolation.
