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Distinct Brain and Behavioral Benefits From Cognitive vs. Physical Training: A Randomized Trial in Aging Adults

A happy senior couple with elastic bands indoors at home, doing exercise on the floor.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Sandra B. Chapman, Sina Aslan, Jeffrey S. Spence, Molly W. Keebler, Laura F. DeFina, Nyaz Didehbani, Alison M. Perez, Hanzhang Lu and Mark D'Esposito

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Overview

This randomized trial compared the results of two training protocols, cognitive training (CT) and physical training (PT), to examine their effects on cognition and brain function for adults aged 56-75 years. Participants were randomly assigned to either the PT or CT protocol, and both training regiments were conducted three hours per week over the span of 12 weeks. Data was gathered before, during (halfway), and after training. Cognitive performance was measured by a range of standardized intelligence tests, and brain changes were measured through fMRI. Evidence indicates that both training methods improved brain function and cognition for participants, but in distinct ways. Cognitive training seemed to improve participants' executive functioning (reasoning, decision making, etc.), whereas physical training enhanced memory.

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    Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD

    Chief Director Dee Wyly Distinguished Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

    Jeffrey S. Spence, PhD

    Director of Biostatistics

    Mark D’Esposito, MD

    Co-Leader, The BrainHealth Project

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