Abstract
[Objective]We examined the effects of long-term moderate exercise on cognitive brain function in older individuals using the P300 component of event-related brain potentials (ERPs).[Methods]Individuals from the active and sedentary group were matched by age (69.38 vs. 66.38 years) and sex (10 males and 10 females in each group). All subjects reported being free of neurological or psychiatric disorders, and provided informed consent. The subjects performed a somatosensory oddball task composed of pressing a button with their right foot as fast as possible following an electrical stimulus at the right index finger, and not responding following an electrical stimulus at the left index finger. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded at Fz, Cz, and Pz according to the International 10-20 system referred to linked earlobes. [Results]The reaction time was faster for the active group (379.98 ms) than for the sedentary group (432.49 ms) (p<0.05). The P300 amplitude of the active group (11.11 μV) was significantly larger than that of the sedentary group (7.54 μV) (p<0.05). Moreover, P300 amplitude was maximum at the parietal site (Pz) in the active group, while the distribution of P300 became more distributed from the Pz to the frontal site (Fz) in the sedentary one. [Conclusion]Long-term moderate exercise had a positive influence not only on response processing but also cognitive processing for older adults. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S237 (2004)]
