A study at the Charité Hospital in Berlin aimed to determine whether and to what extent physical and mental activity improves cognitive performance in older women. Previous studies have examined the effects of either physical or mental exercise on mental performance. However, no one had yet conducted a direct comparison of which type of exercise is better for the brain.

259 participants were selected for the Berlin study. Participation was required to be physically and mentally healthy and not have previously used computers or participated in sports. After an initial psychological and sports-medical examination, the women were randomly divided into three groups: In the computer group, the women were to learn how to use computers and the internet. In the exercise group, the women performed physical exercises. The third group was the control group, which did not perform any exercise.

Sports and computer courses in comparison

The sports and computer courses took place approximately three times a week over a period of six months, each lasting 90 minutes. The exercise program for the sports group consisted of an aerobic fitness program that trained endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as balance and coordination exercises (e.g., stationary bikes, weight training, ball games, dance, etc.). The computer course covered diverse and multifaceted topics, such as creative tasks and exercises requiring coordination and memory (e.g., handling software and hardware, image and video editing, games, text creation, and internet use). Both courses were led by specially trained instructors. The control group did not participate in any of the courses and was expected to continue their lives as before.

Before and after the project, the women's mental performance was assessed using seven scientific tests. The question was whether the brains of participants who had regularly attended their groups improved compared to those who had not. The aim was also to compare which of the courses was more effective for brain training.

The results

As expected, both the sports and computer training courses (the so-called intervention groups) led to positive effects on mental performance. This means that some cognitive parameters improved in the intervention groups, while they remained the same in the control group. Other cognitive parameters worsened in the control group but remained constant in the intervention groups throughout the study period. Thus, both the physical activity in the sports group and the mental activity in the computer training group had a positive effect on the participants' mental performance. Surprisingly, however, no differences were found in the effectiveness of computer and sports training; both were equally effective for the brain.

The authors explain this by suggesting that the novelty and mental stimulation of these completely unfamiliar activities (exercise and computer work) were crucial for the positive effects on cognitive development. Thus, it seems to be equally beneficial for the brain whether one exercises or engages in purely mental activity—but this certainly does not apply to physical fitness.

Sources:

German-language summary of the study http://kops.ub.uni-konstanz.de/bitstream/handle/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-146096/Klusmann_K%C3%B6rperliche.pdf?sequence=3

Original English article http://kops.ub.uni-konstanz.de/bitstream/handle/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-144801/klusmann_complex.pdf?sequence=3