Exam 2: Chapter 13 - Cognitive Function

Question 1

Defining Cognition

• Cognition: from Latin meaning ‘to ____ or conceptualize’.
• Cognition involves the ability to concentrate, divide attention, learn, remember, make a plan, execute a plan, self-regulate, recognize objects, evaluate, construct ideas, think logically, solve problems, etc.
• Cognitive Science: study of ______ processing related to memory, attention, recognition, problem solving, understanding, and decision making.

Answer 1

know

mental

Question 2

Cognition Across the Lifespan

• Focus and interest varies across the ______.
• Early childhood: developmental processes.
• Later childhood: learning; emotional development.
• Adolescence: learning; decision-making; risk-taking.
• Adulthood: maintenance of mental focus and performance.
• Older adulthood: limiting age-related declines.

Answer 2

lifespan

Question 3

Cognitive Decline Terminology

• Normal Age-Related Brain Changes: reduced brain ______, plaque formation, altered brain chemistry.
• Mild Cognitive Impairment: intermediate stage between normal age-related declines and ________.
• Dementia: loss of _______ and other mental abilities sufficient to interfere with daily life.
• Impacts language, motor activity, object recognition, executive function disturbance.

Answer 3

volume

dementia

memory

Question 4

Primary Dementia Categories

• Vascular Dementia: brain injury, microscopic ________, vessel blockage; linked to _____.
• Makes up 80+% of cases.

Answer 4

bleeding

stroke

Question 5

Primary Dementia Categories

• Alzheimer’s: loss of synapses and _______; brain _______; amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
• Makes up 10+% of cases.

Answer 5

neurons

atrophy

Question 6

Primary Dementia Categories

*__________: loss of synapses and neurons; brain atrophy; amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

*________ Dementia: brain injury, microscopic bleeding, vessel blockage; linked to stroke.

*Note: increased life expectancy increases ________ on brain functioning to be maintained with advanced aging.

Answer 6

Alzheimer’s (10+% of cases)

Vascular dementia (80+% of cases)

pressure

Question 7

Statistics

• Dementia:
• One in seven US adults 70+ years.
• Risk _______ every 5 years starting at age 65.
• Alzheimer’s
• ____ before 65 years.
• 5+ million cases in U.S.
• 6th leading cause of death in U.S.

*Note: increased life expectancy increases pressure on _____ ________ to be maintained with advanced aging.

Answer 7

doubles

Rare

brain functioning

Question 8

Measurement Considerations

• ‘Everyday Cognition’
• Memory, language, visual-spatial abilities, planning, organization, divided attention.
• Laboratory Manipulations
• Stroop, mirror tracing, digit span, eye blink, oddball, color trails, etc.
• Electrophysiology
• EEG, ERP

Answer 8

Yuh.

Question 9

Treatment of Cognitive Decline

*Treatment tends to center on ‘_________ symptoms’ and ‘________ declines’ rather than disease elimination.

• Pharmacological.
• Dietary Intervention.
• Mental Activity –> brain games, crossword puzzles (cognitive stimulation).
• Physical Activity.

Answer 9

lessening

slowing

Question 10

Exercise and Cognitive Performance

*Research is clear that PA benefits cognitive performance, brain structure, and brain function in _____ adults.

• Increased activity and fitness reduces the risk of cognitive decline by __% with evidence of a dose response relationship.
• Optimal dosing remains uncertain.

*Age-related cognitive impairments respond favorably to PA interventions.

Answer 10

older

30%

Question 11

Exercise and Cognitive Performance

• Resistance and aerobic exercise likely provide ______ benefits.
• PA benefits most/all cognitive tasks but is likely most beneficial for advanced ‘_________ functions’ tasks in compared to lower level visuospatial or speed-related tasks.
• Mechanism of Action
• Unknown but may link to PA’s impact on BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and brain plasticity.

Answer 11

similar

executive

Question 12

Academic Success

*A primary concern for school districts links to academic performance which has led to _________ in PE, recess, and other non-core subject areas such as music and art.

• Factors that influence academic success
• Skills and Attitudes: attention, concentration, memory, creativity, etc.
• Behaviors: conduct, attendance, homework completion, time on task.
• Achievement: grades, standardized tests.

Answer 12

reductions

Question 13

School-Related Statistics

• 50 million students enroll in about 100K schools with an estimated budget of more than $600 billion.
• U.S. scores are _____ average relative to other industrialized nations: math, science, and reading.
• Almost _____ as many parents believe more PE is needed than parents who believe more math and science is needed.
• Half of all U.S. high schools provide no PE classes.

Answer 13

below

twice

Question 14

Measurement Considerations

• Cognitive performance: generally similar to assessments utilized in cognition and aging.
• Electrophysiology, executive function, stroop, etc.
• Standardized Test Achievement: typical of longer term intervention efforts.
• Academic Engagement: time on task, classroom behaviors.

Answer 14

Mhm.

Question 15

PA and Academic Performance

*Increased PE or school-based PA maintained or _________ their grades on standardized tests despite reduced instructional time.

*______ and ___ students are more likely to have stronger academic performance.

• Activity breaks during the school day improves student __________ and classroom _______.
• Note: Not all studies indicated a positive impact of PA on academics but only 1 out of 52 reviewed demonstrates a negative impact.

Answer 15

increased

Active and fit

concentration and behavior

Question 16

How PA Affects Academic Performance

• General Finding: engaging in PA is likely to have a ________ effect but may not always be effective and almost certainly does not have a _______ impact.
• Failure to find a negative effect is important because of concerns that PA (especially in school) is ‘a waste of time’.
• Other Findings:
• ___ is higher with students who play sports.
• Increasing PE either does no harm or _______ standardized test scores.
• Short PA breaks during the school day improve concentration and classroom behavior.

Answer 16

positive

negative

GPA

improves