EXSC 410 EXAM 2 USC QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026

EXSC 410 EXAM 2 USC QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026 Cognitive Function - Answers the process whereby an individual is able to perceive, recognize and understand thoughts and ideas - concentrating - language - self regulation Normal Changes in Cognitive Function with Age - Answers - Slower behavior and reaction time - attention, language, thinking and planning processes disrupted - memory processes disrupted * recent memory, spatial memory and memory of faces Normal Anatomical Changes with Age - Answers - Frontal and Temporal lobe atrophy * loss of dendrites, and synapses NOT neurons - Brain weight decreases * gray and white matter loss * ventricles increase Normal Age-Related Changes - Answers - making a bad decision once in a while - missing a monthly payment - sometimes forgetting which word to use Sign's of Dementia - Answers - poor judgement - inability to manage a budget - losing track of the date or the season Alzheimer's Disease (AD) - Answers - most common form of dementia * loss of cognitive function and behavioral abilities - prodromal phase known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) - Symptoms arise in the late 60's - Irreversible & progressive neurodegenerative disease - 6th leading cause of death in American 65 yrs Hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease - Answers - beta amyloid plaques - tau neurofibrillary tangles - cell death (atrophy) - acetylcholine deficits William Utermohlen: Art and Alzheimer's Disease - Answers The artist was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1995 and spent 12 years trying to understand the disease by painting self portraits; clearly showing his cognitive decline Longitudinal Study: Rolland 2008 - Answers 20 of 24 studies showed significant protective effect of PA against cognitive decline or dementia Longitudinal Study: Bowen 2012 - Answers Older adults reporting greater vigorous housework in previous 3-7 years had lower risk of dementia Longitudinal Study: Buchman 2012 - Answers Higher levels of PA measured with actigraph for 10 days associated with reduced Alzheimer's Disease risk ( 4 year average follow up) Intervention Study: Lautneschlager 2008 - Answers 138 older adults with MCI or memory complaints randomized to 6 months self-directed PA program Intervention Study: Baker 2010 - Answers 6 months aerobic exercise (vs. stretching control) improved executive function but not declarative memory in OA's with MCI Intervention Study: Winchester 2013 - Answers 1 year regular walking (vs. sedentary control) led to attenuations in global cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease Exercise Post Stroke - Answers - 38 stroke survivors = 8 weeks of aerobic exercise 3 times a week for 45 minutes - Motor learning improved in affected and unaffected sides - information processing speed improved task accuracy improved Standard Population - Answers - 101 under-active or sedentary individuals without cognitive impairment - 4 groups: No-change control, 75, 150, 225 minutes per week of MI aerobic exercise for 26 weeks - Simple attention improved across all exercise groups - Dose-response relationship with Visuospatial Processing - Greater Fitness Improvements = Greater cognitive gains Does exercise improve cognitive function? - Answers - Yes, but the effect is small - when accumulated over weeks and months, large positive effect Neuroplasticity - Answers the brain's ability to adapt to a changing environment and remodel itself throughout the lifespan Neurogenesis - Answers birth of new neurons in the adult hippocampus - down-regulated in advanced age Synaptic Plasticity - Answers exercise can make existing synapses STRONGER and help build MORE synapses Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) - Answers Key growth factor; plays a role in both synaptic plasticity AND neurogenesis Improved Peripheral Metabolic Functioning - Answers Exercise improves body composition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, blood lipid levels, less inflammation/oxidative stress -brain and body impact each other School-Based Physical Education Studies - Answers Increased time spent in PE appears to have a positive relationship or no relationship with academics, NOT a negative relationship Recess Studies - Answers time spent in recess appears to have a positive relationship or no relationship with attention, concentration and/or on-task classroom behaviors Classroom Physical Activity Studies - Answers Postive Associations Extracurricular Physical Activity Studies - Answers Positive or Neutral Associations Academics and Physical Activity - Answers - general positive association - more fit = better academic performance Which part of the brain benefits the most from exercise? - Answers improved neuroplasticity Executive Functioning - Answers processes that control cognitive functions toward goal-oriented behavior - scheduling - planning - multi tasking Supported largely by prefrontal cortex Components of Executive Functioning - Answers - Flexibility (shifting) - Working memory (monitoring and updating) - Inhibition (of distractions, of impulses) Flexibility - Answers - ability to change perspectives - think outside the box - admit you're wrong - take advantage of sudden opportunities Working Memory - Answers - holding information in mind and being able to work with it - important for- * linguistics * understanding cause and effect * understanding concepts Inhibition - Answers - controlling one's behavior - controlling attention - children with lower inhibition grow up to have- * worse health * more crimes * less happy Importance of Executive Functions - Answers - Children with higher executive functions do better in school and on standardized tests - Physical Activity can improve executive functions in children Mechanism: Physio - - Answers - increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - Hippocampal Neurogenesis - Increased catecholamine levels (increased arousal) Mechanism: Psych- - Answers - improved self-esteem - improved self-efficacy Mechanism: Other- - Answers - reduced obesity - improved sleep - reduced fatigue Are kids active in school? - Answers Most schools are increased instructional times and decreasing physical activity times Prevalence of Substance Use in the US: - Answers - 10.6% were current users of illicit drugs - 50.7% were current drinkers of alcohol - 23.5% were current users of tobacco products Substance-Use Disorder (DSM-V) - Answers a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, a manifested by two or more of the following occurring within a 12 month period (next slide) Substance-Use Disorder List - Answers 1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home 2. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous 3. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems 4. Tolerance 5. etc... Tolerance - Answers - a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect - Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance Withdrawal - Answers - the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance - the same (or closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms Usage Process - Answers Drug Use -- Drug Abuse -- Addiction (drug dependence) Neurobiology of Addiction (1) - Answers - All drugs of abuse affect the dopamine pathways in the brain - overstimulation of these pathways causes euphoria and teaches people to repeat the behavior Neurobiology of Addiction (2) - Answers - brain starts producing less dopamine or reduces the number of dopamine receptors Neurobiology of Addiction (3) - Answers - with less DA or less DA receptors, drug abusers now need to take drugs just to feel normal - And they must take larger amounts to get a dopamine high (tolerance) - With long term use, critical pathways are disrupted that help us control and inhibit behavior and make sound decisions (addiction) Why do some people become addicted? - Answers Widely recognized risk factors include: - genes - early use - mental illness - social environment PA in Prevention of Substance Use or Abuse: - Answers Participation in sports = higher levels of alcohol consumption, but lower levels of both cig smoking and illegal drug use PA in Treatment for Substance Use and Abuse: - Answers - evidence suggests exercise may be an effective adjunctive treatment - Decreased cravings and nicotine withdrawal, facilitated smoking cessation Sleep - Answers a state of reversible unconsciousness characterized by little movement and reduced responses to external stimuli