The exercise–cognition relationship: A virtuous circle

Michel Audiffren (1, 2) , Nathalie André (1)

1 CeRCA [Poitiers] - Centre de recherches sur la cognition et l'apprentissage [UMR 7295]
2 Axe 2 (2017-2021) : "Vulnérabilités et risques" (MSHS Poitiers)

Exercise and health psychology have generated 2 sets of empirical studies guided by separate theory-driven axes. The first axis focuses on the causal relationship between chronic exercise and cognition and, more particularly, high-level cognitive functions such as executive functions (EFs). The second axis examines factors influencing the adherence process to physical activity (PA). Research conducted during the past decade shows that these 2 topics are closely linked, with EFs and effortful control playing a pivotal role in the bidirectional relationship linking PA and mental/brain health. The present article supports the idea that an individual engaged in the regular practice of effortful PA initiates a virtuous circle linking PA and effortful control in a bidirectional way. On the one hand, chronic exercise leads to an improvement of EFs and effortful control. On the other hand, gains in EFs and effortful control effectiveness lead to a reciprocal facilitation of the maintenance of PA over time. Some limitations and perspectives to this effort hypothesis are proposed in the last part of the article.

Mots clés: Adherence; Effort; Executive functions; Physical activity; Salience network

Domaines: Neurosciences; Psychologie

Michel Audiffren, Nathalie André. The exercise–cognition relationship: A virtuous circle. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 2019, 8 (4), pp.339-347. ⟨10.1016/j.jshs.2019.03.001⟩. ⟨hal-02440222⟩