Exercise and Cognition: Towards an Inter-Disciplinary Model

ABSTRACT

The development of the theoretical underpinnings for an exercise-cognition interaction, from inverted-U theories of arousal and performance to psychoneuroendocrinological rationales, are examined. The extent to which research has supported these rationales is also investigated and it is shown that there is little support for an inverted-U effect of exercise on cognition. It would appear that exercise has a facilitative effect on choice reaction time but there is a lack of consistency in the findings for other types of task. There is limited evidence that central executive tasks may be negatively affected by heavy exercise. An integrated model drawing on physiological psychology, cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience is proposed.