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•This systematic review summarized the current state of the literature on the effects of digital and home-based physical training interventions on adults’ cognitive performance.•The overall evidence concerning the effectiveness of digital and home-based physical training interventions on measures of cognitive performance is currently rather mixed.•A detailed analysis suggests that especially home-based interventions using online classes and technology-based exercise devices (i.e., step-based exergames) can be a promising approach to improve cognitive performance in healthy older adults, although this finding needs to be treated cautiously due to the limited number of available studies.•We propose a classification framework for digital and home-based physical training interventions.•We advocate for further high-quality studies evaluating the effectiveness of digital and home-based physical training interventions on cognitive performance in different cohorts.

Purpose: To compete at a high-performance level, an athlete needs not only extraordinary physical capabilities but also extraordinary cognitive capabilities. However, position-specific differences concerning cognitive performance capabilities in team sport athletes (e.g., basketball) have, so far, not been extensively studied. Thus, this study investigated possible position-specific differences in specific cognitive performance capabilities in a cohort of trained basketball athletes playing guard, forward, or center positions for more than 10 years. Methods: 27 male basketball players and 20 sedentary controls were included in this study. We used three cognitive tests (i.e., Change Detection Test, Timewall Test, and Mackworth Clock Test) to investigate possible cognitive performance differences concerning position-specific capabilities. Thereto, indices of cognitive performance were compared between the athletes of the different playing positions and sedentary controls. Results: In the Change Detection Test, the number of correct answers from guards was significantly higher than the one of the forwards, centers, and sedentary controls (p < .001). During the Timewall Test, centers’ timing scores were significantly higher than the one of the guards, forwards, and sedentary controls (p < .001). Concerning the Mackworth Clock Test, no significant differences between the playing positions were observed, although all basketball players outperformed sedentary controls. Conclusion: In summary, the results of this cross-sectional study provide evidence (i) that trained basketball players are equipped with superior cognitive capabilities as compared to sedentary controls, and (ii) that in trained basketball players position-related differences in specific cognitive capabilities occur. In regard to the latter, our findings suggest that guards are equipped with superior visuospatial attention and short-term memory capabilities whereas centers showed superior visuospatial perception and timing abilities. Whether such differences are caused by long-term position-specific training, are a result of a selection process, or a result of both factors needs to be investigated in future longitudinal studies.

•A focus on lifestyle interventions for improving quality of life among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder may be particularly warranted as children with autism spectrum disorder are known to engage in poorer health behaviors, including low levels of physical activity, high levels of sedentary behaviors, and inadequate sleep patterns.•Overall, 452 participants (45.34%) met 1 of the 3 recommendations, 216 (22.65%) met 2 recommendations, whereas only 39 participants (5.04%) met all 3 recommendations.•Importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a key factor in promoting and preserving the quality of life (greater learning interest/curiosity and adaptive ability, whereas lower odds of repeating grades, being bullied, and presenting behavioral problems) of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

There is evidence that complex relationships exist between motor functions, brain structure, and cognitive functions, particularly in the aging population. However, whether such relationships observed in older adults could extend to other age groups (e.g., younger adults) remains to be elucidated. Thus, the current study addressed this gap in the literature by investigating potential associations between motor functions, brain structure, and cognitive functions in a large cohort of young adults

Preadolescent children still undergo developmental changes in inhibitory control. Maintenance of high levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) has been suggested to promote its maturation. We compared inhibitory control between children with low and high MVPA as well as their inhibitory processing stream and changes in cortical hemodynamics.

:Emerging evidence points towards the psychological benefits of meeting 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) guidelines, but such associations have not yet been investigated among children and adolescents of prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses. To this end, we examined associations of meeting 24-HMB guidelines with internalizing and externalizing challenges in this population.

Background: Exercise intensities are prescribed using specific intensity zones (moderate, heavy, and severe) determined by a ‘lower’ and a ‘higher’ threshold. Typically, ventilatory (VT) or blood lactate thresholds (LT), and critical power/speed concepts (CP/CS) are used. Various heart rate variability-derived thresholds (HRVTs) using different HRV indices may constitute applicable alternatives, but a systematic review of the proximity of HRVTs to established threshold concepts is lacking. Objective: This systematic review aims to provide an overview of studies that determined HRVTs during endurance exercise in healthy adults in comparison with a reference VT and/or LT concept. Methods: A systematic literature search for studies determining HRVTs in healthy individuals during endurance exercise and comparing them with VTs or LTs was conducted in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science (until January 2022). Studies claiming to describe similar physiological boundaries to delineate moderate from heavy (HRVTlow vs. VTlow and/or LTlow), and heavy from severe intensity zone (HRVThigh vs. VThigh and/or LThigh) were grouped and their results synthesized. Results: Twenty-seven included studies (461 participants) showed a mean difference in relative HR between HRVTlow and VTlow of − 0.6%bpm in weighted means and 0.02%bpm between HRVTlow and LTlow. Bias between HR at HRVTlow and VTlow was 1 bpm (limits of agreement (LoA): − 10.9 to 12.8 bpm) and 2.7 bpm (LoA: − 20.4 to 25.8 bpm) between HRVTlow and LTlow. Mean difference in HR between HRVThigh and VThigh was 0.3%bpm in weighted means and 2.9%bpm between HRVThigh and LThigh while bias between HR at HRVThigh and VThigh was − 4 bpm (LoA: − 17.9 to 9.9 bpm) and 2.5 bpm (LoA: − 12.1 to 17.1 bpm) between HRVThigh and LThigh. Conclusion: HRVTlow seems to be a promising approach for the determination of a ‘lower’ threshold comparable to VTlow and potentially for HRVThigh compared to VThigh, although the latter needs further empirical evaluation. LoA for both intensity zone boundaries indicates bias of HRVTs on an individual level. Taken together, HRVTs can be a promising alternative for prescribing exercise intensity in healthy, male athletes undertaking endurance activities but due to the heterogeneity of study design, threshold concepts, standardization, and lack of female participants, further research is necessary to draw more robust and nuanced conclusions.

It is well-documented in the literature that high levels of regular physical activity (PA), low levels of sedentary behavior (SB), and high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with superior cognitive functioning, especially with regard to older populations. However, concerning other age groups (e.g., preschoolers) the available evidence documenting such a positive relationship is relatively scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association of time spent in different PA intensity zones and CRF with executive functions (EFs) in preschool-age children. To this end, preschoolers (n = 127) aged 3 to 6 years were recruited from 9 kindergarten classes in 2 districts of Shenzhen, China. The amount and the intensity of PA were assessed via accelerometry, and the CRF level was quantified by the 20-meter shuttle run test. EFs including inhibitory control and working memory were assessed using the one-on-one iPad-based Early Year Toolbox. Results suggested that children who had a higher CRF level (“impulse control” scores: β = 0.34, p< .001; “Go” accuracy: β = 0.31, p< .001; “No-Go” accuracy: β =0.28, < .001) and spentmore time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (“impulse control” scores: β = 0.50, p< .001; No-Go” accuracy: β = 0.52, p< .001) had higher scores on inhibitory control tasks, and those who had a higher CRF level had higher scores on a working memory task (β = 0.24, p< .05). The findings are discussed in light of the positive roles of MVPA and CRF for promoting EFs, but also consider the disproportionate association of PA and CRF with working memory relative to inhibition.

Prolonged periods of sedentary behaviour, for instance, engendered by home confinement in Shenzhen city, has led to negative mental health consequences, especially in adolescents. Previous research suggests, in general, that sedentary behavior can increase negative emotions. However, the specific mechanism driving the relationship between sedentary behavior and negative emotions is still relatively unclear. Social support and sleep quality might partly explain the effect of sedentary behavior on negative emotions. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the associations between sedentary behavior and negative emotions, and to investigate if social support and sleep quality mediate such a relationship.

Emerging adulthood (EA, age range between 18 to 29 years) is an important developmental stage that is characterized by marked social and psychological changes. Currently, its developmental features are quantified by the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) but a validated Chinese version of this questionnaire (IDEA-C) is lacking. Thus, this research, which consists of two consecutive studies, aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the translated IDEA in a Chinese sample of emerging adults.

•There is insufficient evidence available to make solid conclusions concerning gaze-fixation-based measures.•Pupillometric measures, as a proxy of the noradrenergic system, can explain the positive effect of acute exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive performance is mixed.•Physical training- or fitness-related changes of the cerebrovascular system (i.e., operationalized via changes in retinal vasculature) are, in general, positively associated with cognitive performance improvements.•Acute and chronic physical exercises have a positive effect on oculomotor-based measures of executive function (i.e., operationalized via antisaccade tasks).•The positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive performance is partly mediated by the dopaminergic system operationalized via the spontaneous eye-blink rate.

Background: Intermittent hypoxia applied at rest or in combination with exercise promotes multiple beneficial adaptations with regard to performance and health in humans. It was hypothesized that replacing normoxia by moderate hyperoxia can increase the adaptive response to the intermittent hypoxic stimulus. Objective: Our objective was to systematically review the current state of the literature on the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia–hyperoxia (IHH) on performance- and health-related outcomes in humans. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science™, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (January 2000 to September 2021) using the following inclusion criteria: (1) original research articles involving humans, (2) investigation of the chronic effect of IHH, (3) inclusion of a control group being not exposed to IHH, and (4) articles published in peer-reviewed journals written in English. Results: Of 1085 articles initially found, eight studies were included. IHH was solely performed at rest in different populations including geriatric patients (n= 1), older patients with cardiovascular (n= 3) and metabolic disease (n= 2) or cognitive impairment (n= 1), and young athletes with overtraining syndrome (n= 1). The included studies confirmed the beneficial effects of chronic exposure to IHH, showing improvements in exercise tolerance, peak oxygen uptake, and global cognitive functions, as well as lowered blood glucose levels. A trend was discernible that chronic exposure to IHH can trigger a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The evidence of whether IHH exerts beneficial effects on blood lipid levels and haematological parameters is currently inconclusive. A meta-analysis was not possible because the reviewed studies had a considerable heterogeneity concerning the investigated populations and outcome parameters. Conclusion: Based on the published literature, it can be suggested that chronic exposure to IHH might be a promising non-pharmacological intervention strategy for improving peak oxygen consumption, exercise tolerance, and cognitive performance as well as reducing blood glucose levels, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in older patients with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or cognitive impairment. However, further randomized controlled trials with adequate sample sizes are needed to confirm and extend the evidence. This systematic review was registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42021281248) (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

Only a few studies have examined the associations between personality traits and disordered eating in female exercisers which, in turn, limits our current knowledge about this research topic. Given the high risk of disordered eating in female exercisers, this study investigated the associations between the Big Five personality traits (i.e., extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness,  emotion stability, and openness to experience) and disordered eating in female exercisers, and further explored the potential mediators, namely exercise dependence symptoms and obsessive–compulsive symptoms underlying this association. A total of 295 female exercisers aged between 18 to 67 years participated in this study. We found that in female exercisers, the level of conscientiousness, emotional stability, and agreeableness are significantly and negatively associated with the level of disordered eating. Additionally, emotional stability and conscientiousness were related to exercise dependence and obsessive–compulsive symptoms among female exercisers and could lead to disordered eating. These findings can be used to improve screening procedures for eating disorders in female exercisers as they contribute to a better understanding of the psychological mechanism underlying the associations between the Big Five personality traits and disordered eating.

Negative emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, and stress challenge health care due to their long-term consequences for mental disorders. Accumulating evidence indicates that regular physical activity (PA) can positively influence negative emotional states. Among possible candidates, resilience and exercise tolerance in particular have the potential to partly explain the positive effects of PA on negative emotional states. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between PA and negative emotional states, and further determine the mediating effects of exercise tolerance and resilience in such a relationship.