Effects of Sport on Health and Brain Function - Annotated Bibliography Example

Instructor

ENG 106

18 October 2017

Effects of Sport on Health and Brain Function

Abstract

Existing literature concerning the impact of sport on health and brain function set out the direct, as well as the indirect benefits of aerobic fitness. The first source in this literature review focuses on the correlation between aerobic fitness and the brain function in young adults. The results of the study asserts that maximum oxygen uptake is linked with aerobic fitness and has a resultant positive effect on enhancing performance regarding processing speed and short-term memory. The second source outlines the role played by physical activity in inducing the release of BDNF and the concomitant influence on cognitive functioning. The results of the study accents that aerobic training (when compared to resistance training) is results in boosted resting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations in blood. The third source emphasizes the positive role of sport on cognitive health in childhood. The result of the study show that physical activity supports the reconfiguration of an individual’s neurons consequential to the merging of major neural networks which sustain the thought process Additionally, the fourth source focuses on the indirect benefits of physical activity such as improvements in the quality of sleep, while the fifth source covers both the direct, as well as the indirect benefits of physical fitness. The results of the fourth sources shows that physical exercise augments the well-being of persons and consequently improving the brain function and emotional stability. The findings of the fifth source proves that physical exercise has both direct and indirect benefits to brain function and memory. An example of a key benefit include the induction of the production of essential chemicals within the brain.

Introduction

Empirical evidence demonstrates that sports have a positive impact on health and brain function. With respect to brain function, aerobic exercise enhances an individual’s heart rate and facilitates the transport of extra oxygen to the individual’s brain cells, a key prerequisite to optimal brain function. In addition, sports and related physical activity helps boost the release of hormones which facilitate a nourishing setting for subsequent brain cell growth. Godman, asserts that physical exercise is crucial to health and brain function since it helps stimulate liberation of chemical growth factors which enhance brain cell health. Moreover, physical exercise helps minimize insulin resistance and reduce inflammation (1). With regard to the health of individuals, physical exercise helps minimize cholesterol levels in the body, thus effectively minimizing the chances of acquiring cholesterol-induced health conditions. Sports also have a positive impact on the health of individuals since the physical activity reminiscent of different sports enhances blood flow in body muscles.

Mapping Paragraph

The issue of sports and their related impacts on health and brain function has been a subject of interest to researchers for many years. Key areas of concern in this field have primarily revolved around the direct, as well as the direct impacts of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise on brain cells. It is worth noting that empirical and anecdotal evidence on the matter have gravitated towards the positive effects of physical exercise on health, as opposed to any significant negative effects on health. As a result, numerous researchers have indicated that the significance of their study is the promotion of sporting activities, citing the resultant benefits to health and brain function. Owing to the extensity of current literature on the topic of sports and related benefits to health and brain function, the literature review focuses on research studies which encompass the direct, as well as indirect effects of physical activity. Additionally, the literature review analyses research articles that are less than 3 years old in order to obtain current information concerning the aforementioned topic. Though current literature on the topic may espouse critical research gaps, it provides crucial information regarding recently discovered impacts of sports on health and brain function. To start with, the literature review focuses on research studies conducted by reputable professionals in fields related to health science. Notably, the articles give a scientific perspective on the topic at hand, as opposed to a simple overview of the health benefits linked to sports and physical exercise.

Source 1

The research article by Oulhote, Debes, Vestergaards, Weihe and Grandjean, is based on the relationship between aerobic fitness and the brain function in young adults. The hypothesis of the research study is that methylmercury exposure reduces the population of neural stem cells while aerobic exercise has a positive impact on the brain which relies on enhanced neurogenesis within the hippocampus (677). The study’s findings reveal that maximum oxygen uptake associated with aerobic fitness results in enhanced performance in processing speed, as well as short-term memory. Nonetheless, methylmercury exposure at the prenatal stage serves to attenuate the positive effects of aerobic exercise on the brain.

The authors of the article, Oulhote et al., are credible primarily because they the distinguished professionals affiliated to renowned institutions of higher learning. The methodology used in the research study allows for accurate results and findings. This is primarily because the researcher sought to use participants of the same age to measure maximum oxygen uptake. In addition, the assessment of methylmercury exposure at the prenatal stage eliminates the possibility of extraneous variables affecting the study’s results. A notable research gap in the study includes the fact that the research study does not address the impact of anaerobic fitness on the brain.

Source 2

The hypothesis of the research study by Dinoff et al. postulates that enhanced BDNF, otherwise referred to as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, mediates various mood, as well as cognitive benefits (1). Meanwhile, the objective of the research study was to establish the impact of physical exercise on resting BDNF concentration in the blood (1). The results of the study indicate that in 29 cases that satisfied inclusion criteria, resting BDNF concentrations were higher following intervention (4). Aerobic training, as opposed to resistance training led to enhanced resting BDNF concentrations in the blood (4). Notably, the gender of participants did not have a significant influence on resting BDNF concentrations (5).

The researchers, Dinoff et al., are credible given that they are distinguished scholars in the fields of neuropsychopharmacology, pharmacology, toxicology and psychiatry affiliated to renowned institutions of higher learning (1). The methodology applied in the study was crucial to eliminating research bias. Initially, the researchers employed standardized criteria to assess the risks of bias. In addition, the researchers used funnel pots, as well as Eggers test to assess risks associated with publication bias (3). Statistical analysis was crucial to the data analysis process since it helped cater for variations in BDNF levels between assays utilized by distinct laboratories.

The research conducted by Oulhote et al. reveals striking similarities with the research undertaken by Dinoff et al. One such similarity is the positive impact of aerobic exercise on brain function. While the research by Oulhote et al. primarily focuses on the role played oxygen uptake in enhancing cognitive functioning, the research by Dinoff et al. mainly concentrates on the role played by BDNF on brain function. According to Oulhote et al., high aerobic capacity enhances the individual’s performance in both processing speed, as well as short-term memory. Dinoff et al., on the other hand, links aerobic exercise to enhanced brain function by suggesting that aerobic training induces the release of a protein known as BDNF which is pivotal to the survival, growth and differentiation of neurons (2).

Source 3

The primary focus of the article by Hillman is the correlation between physical activity and cognitive health. The author commences with an epidemiological overview of existing behavioral trends which curtail the ability of school going children to engage in physical activity. The study also examines the link between childhood fitness and brain function, as well as structure among children that have different fitness levels. In addition, the study discusses the fitness dissimilarities among children with relation to archetypal brain development. The author incorporates empirical data from correlational studies to demonstrate a differential link between adiposity on different cognition aspects and childhood fitness.

The author of the article, Charles Hillman, is credible since he is a renowned scholar affiliated to the University of Illinois. The content of the article with a comparison to the location of publishing is consistent with key quality standards. It is worth noting that key research gaps exist in the article. First, the article does not address the short-term impacts of physical exercise on the brain, as well as cognitive development. Rather, the study primarily focuses on the longitudinal impacts of physical exercise on brain function. Another key research gap that is evident in the study includes the exclusion of factors that impact on scholastic performance among children devoid of physical activity.

The findings in article by Hillman are largely consistent with the findings contained in the research studies conducted by Oulhote et al. and Dinoff et al. Notably, Hillman’s epidemiologic overview reveals that physical activity helps reconfigure an individual’s neurons resulting or leading to the consolidation of key neural networks which support the individual’s thought process. This finding is consistent with the findings of Dinoff et al. which stipulate that physical exercise induces the release of BDNF which facilitates the survival, growth, and differentiation of neurons. The findings by Hillman are also consistent with those of Oulhote et al. in that, Oulhote et al. suggest that aerobic fitness impacts the hippocampus via increases in blood volume within the cerebrum, inducement of neurogenesis, in addition to increases in the densities associated with neuron synapses. The study by Oulhote et al. demonstrates that physical inactivity has a negative impact on neurogenesis and consequently neurocognitive functioning (681). Hillman’s article reveals that the synergy between environmental experience and a person’s genotype aids brain development from an early age and continuing over the individual’s lifespan (3). Environmental experience, in this context, denotes experiences such as physical exercise and sports which are pivotal to neurological development (3). With respect to brain development, these findings align with those of Oulhote et al., in that Oulhote et al. uncover that methylmercury exposure at an early age impede the development of cognition, as well as processing speed.

Source 4

The hypothesis of the research study by Demirel suggests that sufficient or quality sleep is crucial to the health and well-being of adults, children, and adolescents, since sleep influences most facets of life (S184). The objective of the research study is to establish the positive impacts of sports participation on the quality of sleep and to determine the possible variations in the quality of sleep between sportspersons and non-athletes (S184). In addition, the researcher employed a PSQ index to measure the quality of sleep. The findings of the study indicate that non-athletes demonstrated a significantly lower PSQ index when compared to sportspersons (S184).

The author of the article, Demirel, is credible since he is a distinguished scholar in his field and is affiliated to Selcuk University. The quality of the content is also consistent with the article's publication in the Clin Invest Med, a professional journal associated with credible research in fields ranging from health to medicine. The methodology used in the research article allows for the attainment of accurate results and findings. This is primarily because the researcher takes into consideration factors such as the age and gender of the participants in the selection of samples. Moreover, the sample size for both sportspersons and non-athletes is adequate for the realization of accurate findings.

The research study by Demirel infers that physical exercise reminiscent of sportsmanship not only enhances the health of individuals but also improves brain function, as well as emotional stability (S184). This finding aligns with Oulhote et al. finding that physical exercise enhances brain function by supporting neurogenesis within the hippocampus. Demirel’s findings are also consistent to those of Dinoff et al. since the research study by Dinoff et al. reveals that physical training improves brain function by inducing the release of BDNF which is pivotal to neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, in addition to preventing neuronal loss. Dinoff et al. assert that BDNF’s contribution to neurogenesis has inherent cognitive benefits for athletic individuals. The findings of Demirel’s research study are also consistent with those of Hillman’s monograph, in that, Hillman reveals that physical activity is pivotal to the development of cognitive function from an early age and throughout the individual’s lifespan. It is worth noting that Demirel’s research study is different from other studies since it primarily focuses on the link between athleticism and sleeps quality. As such, a key research gap in the study by Demirel is the exclusion of the correlation between enhanced sleep quality and brain function adults, children and adolescents.

Source 5

The article by Godman primarily focuses on the crucial link between physical exercise and brain functioning, particularly in old age. Godman asserts that physical exercise helps alleviate brain fog that comes with advanced age by protecting memory, in addition to thinking skills (1). An epidemiologic overview by Godman reveals that aerobic fitness helps increase the mass of the adult hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning, as well as verbal memory. According to Godman, physical exercise has both direct, as well as indirect benefits to brain function and memory (1). A key direct benefit includes the capacity of physical exercise to induce the production of chemicals within the brain (1).

The author of the article, Heidi Godman, is credible since she is a distinguished scholar in her field and is affiliated with Harvard Medical School. In addition, the article features high quality and well-researched content in line with the professional reputation of its publisher, Harvard Health Publishing. Notably, significant research gaps are observable in the article. One such research gap is that the article does not outline the specific chemicals that are produced in the adult brain to enhance brain functioning. In addition, the article does not set out the role played by aerobic exercise in increasing oxygen uptake and thereby improving brain cell health.

The article by Heidi Godman espouses several key concepts that are consistent with the findings of other sources within the literature review. Case in point is Godman’s assertion that the indirect benefits of physical exercise include improvements in sleep quality and mood, as well as marked reductions in stress, depression, and anxiety, all of which help curtail cognitive impairment. This assertion aligns with Demirel’s finding that athleticism leads to improvements in the quality of sleep (S184). Moreover, Demirel’s research study reveals that physical fitness and long-term exercise helps minimize depression, stress, and anxiety (S184). Godman’s finding that a significant direct benefit of physical exercise includes the capacity of physical activity to induce the production of chemicals is consistent with the findings of Dinoff et al. In their study, Dinoff et al. uncovered that physical activity induces the release of BDNF, a chemical involved in neurogenesis and consequently enhanced cognitive function (2). Godman’s finding with regard to the direct benefits of physical exercise also bears striking similarities with the findings of Oulhote et al., in that, Oulhote posits that physical activity results in enhanced neurogenesis within the adult hippocampus. In addition, Godman’s findings with respect to the role of physical activity in the attainment of healthy brain function align with Hillman's findings on the matter. Hillman asserts that physical activity has a positive impact on cognitive health from an early age through to adulthood (2).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that physical activity is pivotal to health, as well as brain function. It is worth noting that a significant direct benefit of aerobic fitness includes the release of neurogenesis inducing chemicals within the hippocampus. Moreover, indirect benefits associated with physical activity range from improvements in sleep quality to marked reductions in stress and depression.