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Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
07:13

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

Acute Exercise and Cognitive Improvement: A Neuromodulatory Perspective.

Soichi Ando1,2,3, Toshihiko Fujimoto4, Mizuki Sudo3

  • 1Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan.

Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
|June 10, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Physical exercise boosts brain function, but how remains unclear. This study suggests enhanced neuromodulation plays a key role in exercise-cognition benefits and proposes a framework to study it.

Keywords:
cognitive performancedopamineelectrical muscle stimulationpositron emission tomographyvoluntary exercise

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
07:13

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Physical exercise is known to enhance cognitive performance.
  • The precise physiological mechanisms driving this exercise-cognition link are not fully elucidated.
  • Neuromodulation, the alteration of neuron activity, is a potential mediator.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose enhanced neuromodulation as a critical factor in exercise-induced cognitive improvements.
  • To present a framework for understanding the interaction between physical activity and cognitive function.
  • To guide future research on the neurobiological underpinnings of exercise and cognition.

Main Methods:

  • This study is theoretical, proposing a framework rather than presenting empirical data.
  • It synthesizes existing knowledge on exercise physiology and cognitive neuroscience.
  • The framework integrates concepts of neuroplasticity and neurotransmitter function.

Main Results:

  • Enhanced neuromodulation is hypothesized as a key mechanism linking physical activity to cognitive benefits.
  • The proposed framework highlights the dynamic interplay between physiological changes during exercise and subsequent cognitive enhancements.
  • Specific neuromodulatory systems are suggested as targets for future investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced neuromodulation offers a promising explanation for how acute exercise improves cognitive function.
  • An integrative framework is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the exercise-cognition relationship.
  • Future research should focus on empirically testing the role of neuromodulation in mediating these effects.