This study investigates how adding cognitive stimulation to exercise impacts overall outcomes. Cognitive stimulation involves engaging mental processes like attention, memory, and problem-solving while being physically active. The intervention integrates activities that challenge mental functions into exercise routines. Existing research suggests that such interventions can improve various aspects of exercise performance, such as adherence, enjoyment, and perceived effort. Additionally, they may also lead to enhanced cognitive function and mental well-being, hinting at potential combined benefits of mental and physical activity. Understanding the effects of cognitive stimulation on exercise can help in developing more effective strategies for promoting both physical and cognitive health. In summary, physical exercise emerges as a powerful tool for enhancing cognitive stimulation and mental well-being. By making regular physical activity a habit, individuals can reap cognitive benefits alongside physical ones, underlining the importance of including exercise in daily routines for optimal cognitive function and overall health.
Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is also called as aging related memory damage. Decreased cognitive function due to aging is known to be associated with the frontal lobe. Alpha wave is generated in the dominance in the frontal lobe or a wide range of regions in the brain, it should be doubted that the brain function might be degraded.
Objective: To determine the effect of sensory stimulation type on learning and brain activity pattern of elderly persons with MCI.
Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind)
Methods: Twenty elderly persons aged more than 65 with MCI were randonmized to simultaneous visual/auditory stimulation group (SVASG) and or auditory stimulation group (ASG). Ten peoples were assigned to each group and lectroencephalogram test was performed to individuals. In the electroencephalogram test, electroencephalography of prior to sensory stimulation, and during sensory stimulation were measured to compare brain activity pattern according to the study groups and measurement period.
Results: The relative alpha power due to a sensory stimulation type showed that the SVASG significantly decreased in the left frontal lobe and the left parietal lobe statistically compared to those of the ASG while sensory stimulation was given (p<.05). The relative beta power due to a sensory stimulation type showed that the SVASG significantly increased in the left and right frontal lobes, the left and right parietal lobes, and the left temporal lobe statistically compared to those of the ASG while sensory stimulation was given (p<.05).
Conclusions: Electroencephalographic analysis showed that the type of sensory stimulation can affect the brain activity pattern. However, the effects were not studied that which brain activity pattern help to improved cognitive function of elderly persons with mild cognitive impairment.
The multi-tactile stimulation system was developed to analyze cognitive function characteristics. The developed system consists of three units; control unit, drive unit and actuator that simultaneously and separately supports the vibration, heat, and pressure stimulation. From the results, vibration stimuli have a wide frequency range of 0-300 Hz comprising 20 levels, and stimulation intensity comprising 40 levels. The control temperature and stimulation temperature used for heat stimulation comprise four and eight levels, respectively. Pressure stimuli in the range of 0-600 mmHg can be stimulated comprising 12 levels. Therefore, the developed stimulator can be used for integrative tactile perception and cognition studies on various vibration, heat and pressure sensations.