Performance Speed and physical activity

McAuley and White (2011) state that the human cognitive abilities control all activities undertaken through storage, integration processes, and activation of new information or problems and are interrelated in as such as one function is likely to affect the efficiency of another. Tourva et al. (2016) describe cognition as the processes of the mind seen within the abilities like attention, processing speed, memory, reasoning, spatial processing, problem-solving, language, and perception. Many studies according to Alshehri (2019) suggest that Processing Speed, Attention, and Working Memory are major cognitive functions that collaborate to achieve a coherent cognitive system. Sheppard and Vernon (2008) highlighted that cognition can be understood by the interactive roles of biology, experience, and environment and through the theories of cognitive function like fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence as well as the difference between them. Alshehri (2019) mentions that both theories demonstrate the development and interaction between intellectual ability as well as fundamental cognitive functions such as attention and memory (Cattell, 1971; Horn & Cattell, 1966). Fluid intelligence according to Tourva et al. (2016) is the biological ability in which the individual theoretically reasons through novel situations, whereas crystallized intelligence is the knowledge and skills that an individual develops by experience, education, and acculturation. Tourva et al. (2016) studied the association between general fluid intelligence and crystallized and concluded that the main interactions between both theories were the relationships among three cognitive functions—processing speed, attention, and working memory. It has also been mentioned that the relationship among major cognitive functions like Processing speed, attention, and Working Memory is a fundamental aspect of intelligence (Burns, Nettelbeck, & McPherson, 2009; Deary, 2012; Tillman, Bohlin, Sorensen, & Lundervold, 2009) with studies suggesting that Processing Speed, attention, and Working Memory are major cognitive function pillars of intelligence and directly impacts upon an individual’s intellectual abilities and creative (Burns et al., 2009; Tillman et al., 2009). Processing speed is sometimes considered a core constituent of attention (Silva and Lee, 2021) with most tests of attention being speed-sensitive if not speed-dependent this includes the d2 test of attention. Bors and Forrin (1995) define Processing Speed as the overall time a person takes to correctly respond to a cognitive task as well as the rate taken for perceiving, attending, and integrating stimuli with studies claiming that Processing Speed explains the association between the capacity of Working Memory and fluid intelligence as an essential characteristic of intellectual capacity (Sheppard & Vernon, 2008). DeLuca (2008) defines Processing Speed as the duration of time required to perform a certain cognitive task or the number of works that can be read during a limited period. Turken et al., (2008) suggest that myelination and white matter maturation are the neurobiological mechanism that is fundamental to improving Processing Speed (Paus et al, 2001.) As white matter matures and becomes integrated, axons become progressively more myelinated. Processing Speed. According to Turken et al. (2008), this is a significant predictor of the functions of the left parietal and temporal lobes, bilaterally and in the left middle frontal gyrus, bilateral parietal lobes, and bilateral temporal lobes. In turn, myelination and white matter maturation are fundamental to the link between the spread of cortical regions that trigger cognition and cause different patterns of cortical activity (Kotter & Sommer, 2000; Turken et al., 2008). Walhovd et al. (2005, which is connected to the proficiency of cognitive ability (Kotter & Sommer, 2000). As suggested by Turken et al. (2008) that brain myelination and white matter play a role in Processing Speed, studies have indicated that following Turken et al (2008) suggestions the neurophysiological hypotheses in which physical exercise can promote benefits in brain health, such as the regulation of reactive oxygen species, growth factor release, neurotransmitter synthesis, brain oxygenation increase, glucose uptake and changes in cerebral blood flow which all impact myelination and brain white matter are also able underlying factors associated with processing Speed and cognitive improvement (Stein et al, 2018). Cotman et al (2007) highlighted that their evidence suggested that physical activity and physical exercise influence the brain through circulating growth factors. These growth factors cross the blood barrier and modulate several mechanisms for cognition. Llorens et al (2004) mention that among these factors are a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which have been indicated as the main factors related to plasticity, functioning and brain health. Stein et al (2018) state that insulin-like growth factor seems to be a mediator of exercise effects on brain health since it appears to regulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor with peripheral IGF-1 levels being quickly increased in humans in response to physical exercise (Schwarz et al, 2006). Through the involvement and increment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor there is improved brain health and function which plays an essential role in exercise-induced neurogenesis and cognitive functions like Attention, Processing Speed and Working Memory (Tourva et al, 2016). Yours in movement Stephen Braybrook, The Movement Man Movement Expert . Musings with The Movement Podcast Host . Author . Creator of Brain-Move Websites: brainmoveeducation.com or themovementman.com Facebook: brainmoveeducation or movementman Twitter: braybrooksj Instagram: brain_move_uk