The neural correlates of physical exercise-induced general cognitive gains: A systematic review and meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies
Abstract
The general-domain effect of physical exercise-induced cognitive gains in behavioral outcomes is well-documented, but a consensus on the neural correlates remains elusive. This meta-analysis aims to identify the neural correlates of physical exercise-induced general cognitive gains by examining task-related brain activation consistently modulated by physical exercise and its relationship to those gains. Our analysis of 52 studies with 1503 participants shows that physical exercise enhances cognitive task performance (Hedges' g = 0.271) and consistently increases task-related brain activation primarily in the bilateral precuneus. These increases in task-related brain activation correlate positively with cognitive task performance improvements improvements. Notably, physical exercise intensity, adherence, and social environment significantly modulate task-related brain activation changes induced by physical exercise. This meta-analysis offers an unprecedented comprehensive assessment of how physical exercise modulates task-related brain activation changes, providing neural evidence to support the general-domain effects on cognitive function induced by physical exercise.
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To reduce false positives, only clusters that were identified in the overall analysis and additionally exhibited the expected significant between-group difference were reported.
“To reduce false positives, we report only clusters that were identified in the overall analysis and additionally exhibited the expected significant between-group difference94.”
From Meta-analysis of computerised working memory training: behavioural gains, training parameters, transfer mechanisms, and neural correlates (2026) · cites this paper as [94]
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References 149 · Cited by 24
- Authors
- Li, G., Xia, H., Teng, G., & Chen, A.
- Affiliations
- Shanghai University of Sport (CN)
- Army Medical University (CN)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Chen, Antao
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-02
- Volume
- 169
- Pages
- 106008
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4406250964
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 149
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 8
- FWCI
- 3.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- erratum (2025-02-01)
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171040, 32371105)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Keywords
- physical activity, general intelligence, neural correlates, task-related brain activation, precuneus, cognitive task performance, exercise intensity, exercise adherence, social environment
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Cognition, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Exercise
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