Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (2): 201-204.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.177709

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Exergames: neuroplastic hypothesis about cognitive improvement and biological effects on physical function of institutionalized older persons

Renato Sobral Monteiro-Junior 1, César Augusto Otero Vaghetti 2, Osvaldo José M. Nascimento 3, Jerson Laks 4, Andrea Camaz Deslandes 5   

  1. 1 Physical Education and Sport Department of the Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Post Graduation Program (PhD)
    in Medicine (Neurology-Neuroscience), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil; Neuroscience Laboratory of Exercise, Universidade
    Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    2 Higher School of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
    3 Neurology Department, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
    4 Programa de Pós-graduação em Biomedicina Translacional - Biotrans, Universidade Unigranrio, Brazil; Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade
    Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa do Envelhecimento, Instituto Vital Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    5 Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Universdiade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade
    Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Neuroscience Laboratory of Exercise, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Received:2015-12-01 Online:2016-02-15 Published:2016-02-15
  • Contact: Renato Sobral Monteiro-Junior, Ph.D.,monteirojuniorms@gmail.com.
  • Supported by:

    The authors received funding support by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), and Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep).

PDF

428

Abstract:

Exergames can be considered a dual task because the games are performed by a man-videogame interface, requiring cognitive and motor functions simultaneously. Although the literature has shown improvements of cognitive and physical functions due to exergames, the intrinsic mechanisms involved in these functional changes have still not been elucidated. The aims of the present study were (1) to demonstrate the known biological mechanisms of physical exercise regarding muscle adaptation and establish a relationship with exergames; and (2) to present a neurobiological hypothesis about the neuroplastic effects of exergames on the cognitive function of institutionalized older persons. These hypotheses are discussed.

Key words: virtual reality, elderly, nursing-home, physical activity, cognition, neuroplasticity