---
_id: '63563'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: "<jats:sec>\r\n                    <jats:title>Introduction</jats:title>\r\n
    \                   <jats:p>Age-related changes in brain signal complexity are
    associated with cognitive decline and reduced neural adaptivity in older adults.
    Exergaming offers a promising prophylactic intervention combining physical and
    cognitive training. The aim of the present study was to assess how exergaming
    alters the temporal trajectory of brain signal complexity at rest and during gameplay
    in older adults.</jats:p>\r\n                  </jats:sec>\r\n                  <jats:sec>\r\n
    \                   <jats:title>Methods</jats:title>\r\n                    <jats:p>Twenty-eight
    healthy older adults participated in a 4-week exergaming intervention. Electroencephalography
    was recorded using 64 electrodes at rest (pre- and post-intervention) and during
    exergaming (pre-, mid-, and post-intervention). Brain signal complexity was quantified
    using multiscale entropy across 64 time scales on preprocessed signals.</jats:p>\r\n
    \                 </jats:sec>\r\n                  <jats:sec>\r\n                    <jats:title>Results</jats:title>\r\n
    \                   <jats:p>Post-intervention resting-state analysis revealed
    significant reductions at fine and increases at coarse scales in frontal, central,
    and posterior entropy. During gameplay, entropy declined widespread by mid-intervention,
    particularly at coarse scales over frontal, central and temporal regions. From
    mid- to post-intervention, the decline narrowed leaving a net pre-to-post reduction
    concentrated at coarse scales in these regions.</jats:p>\r\n                  </jats:sec>\r\n
    \                 <jats:sec>\r\n                    <jats:title>Discussion</jats:title>\r\n
    \                   <jats:p>Resting-state changes indicated a shift toward a younger
    brain profile, characterized by a transition from age-related increases in local
    processing to enhanced distributed processing, which may potentially mitigate
    the rise in neural modularity associated with aging. During gameplay, brain signal
    complexity decreased in week 2, followed by a modest change by week 4, consistent
    with the framework in which complexity initially streamlines and then adjusts
    toward a task-specific optimum. These findings suggest that exergaming can beneficially
    modulate brain complexity in older adults, offering the potential to reduce age-related
    neural decline and support healthy brain aging.</jats:p>\r\n                  </jats:sec>"
article_number: '1748274'
author:
- first_name: Daghan Yüksel
  full_name: Piskin, Daghan Yüksel
  id: '76790'
  last_name: Piskin
  orcid: 000-0002-3358-4669
- first_name: Helen Martha
  full_name: Müller, Helen Martha
  id: '40188'
  last_name: Müller
- first_name: Nina
  full_name: Skjæret-Maroni, Nina
  last_name: Skjæret-Maroni
- first_name: Beatrix
  full_name: Vereijken, Beatrix
  last_name: Vereijken
- first_name: Jochen
  full_name: Baumeister, Jochen
  last_name: Baumeister
citation:
  ama: 'Piskin DY, Müller HM, Skjæret-Maroni N, Vereijken B, Baumeister J. Rewiring
    the aging brain: exergaming modulates brain complexity in older adults. <i>Frontiers
    in Aging Neuroscience</i>. 2026;17. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274">10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274</a>'
  apa: 'Piskin, D. Y., Müller, H. M., Skjæret-Maroni, N., Vereijken, B., &#38; Baumeister,
    J. (2026). Rewiring the aging brain: exergaming modulates brain complexity in
    older adults. <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>, <i>17</i>, Article 1748274.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274</a>'
  bibtex: '@article{Piskin_Müller_Skjæret-Maroni_Vereijken_Baumeister_2026, title={Rewiring
    the aging brain: exergaming modulates brain complexity in older adults}, volume={17},
    DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274">10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274</a>},
    number={1748274}, journal={Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience}, publisher={Frontiers
    Media SA}, author={Piskin, Daghan Yüksel and Müller, Helen Martha and Skjæret-Maroni,
    Nina and Vereijken, Beatrix and Baumeister, Jochen}, year={2026} }'
  chicago: 'Piskin, Daghan Yüksel, Helen Martha Müller, Nina Skjæret-Maroni, Beatrix
    Vereijken, and Jochen Baumeister. “Rewiring the Aging Brain: Exergaming Modulates
    Brain Complexity in Older Adults.” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i> 17 (2026).
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274</a>.'
  ieee: 'D. Y. Piskin, H. M. Müller, N. Skjæret-Maroni, B. Vereijken, and J. Baumeister,
    “Rewiring the aging brain: exergaming modulates brain complexity in older adults,”
    <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>, vol. 17, Art. no. 1748274, 2026, doi:
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274">10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274</a>.'
  mla: 'Piskin, Daghan Yüksel, et al. “Rewiring the Aging Brain: Exergaming Modulates
    Brain Complexity in Older Adults.” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>, vol.
    17, 1748274, Frontiers Media SA, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274">10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274</a>.'
  short: D.Y. Piskin, H.M. Müller, N. Skjæret-Maroni, B. Vereijken, J. Baumeister,
    Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 17 (2026).
date_created: 2026-01-12T13:26:12Z
date_updated: 2026-01-12T13:28:02Z
department:
- _id: '172'
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1748274
intvolume: '        17'
language:
- iso: eng
publication: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 1663-4365
publication_status: published
publisher: Frontiers Media SA
status: public
title: 'Rewiring the aging brain: exergaming modulates brain complexity in older adults'
type: journal_article
user_id: '76790'
volume: 17
year: '2026'
...
---
_id: '44545'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: <jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>Exergames are increasingly
    used in rehabilitation settings for older adults to train physical and cognitive
    abilities. To meet the potential that exergames hold, they need to be adapted
    to the individual abilities of the player and their training objectives. Therefore,
    it is important to know whether and how game characteristics affect their playing.
    The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of two different kinds of exergame
    (step game and balance game) played at two difficulty levels on brain activity
    and physical activity.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Twenty-eight
    older independently living adults played two different exergames at two difficulty
    levels each. In addition, the same movements as during gaming (leaning sideways
    with feet in place and stepping sideways) were performed as reference movements.
    Brain activity was recorded using a 64-channel EEG system to assess brain activity,
    while physical activity was recorded using an accelerometer at the lower back
    and a heart rate sensor. Source-space analysis was applied to analyze the power
    spectral density in theta (4 Hz–7 Hz) and alpha-2 (10 Hz–12 Hz) frequency bands.
    Vector magnitude was applied to the acceleration data.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Friedman
    ANOVA revealed significantly higher theta power for the exergaming conditions
    compared to the reference movement for both games. Alpha-2 power showed a more
    diverse pattern which might be attributed to task-specific conditions. Acceleration
    decreased significantly from the reference movement to the easy condition to the
    hard condition for both games.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>The
    results indicate that exergaming increases frontal theta activity irrespective
    of type of game or difficulty level, while physical activity decreases with increasing
    difficulty level. Heart rate was found to be an inappropriate measure in this
    population older adults. These findings contribute to understanding of how game
    characteristics affect physical and cognitive activity and consequently need to
    be taken into account when choosing appropriate games and game settings for exergame
    interventions.</jats:p></jats:sec>
author:
- first_name: Helen
  full_name: Müller, Helen
  last_name: Müller
- first_name: Jochen
  full_name: Baumeister, Jochen
  last_name: Baumeister
- first_name: Ellen Marie
  full_name: Bardal, Ellen Marie
  last_name: Bardal
- first_name: Beatrix
  full_name: Vereijken, Beatrix
  last_name: Vereijken
- first_name: Nina
  full_name: Skjæret-Maroni, Nina
  last_name: Skjæret-Maroni
citation:
  ama: 'Müller H, Baumeister J, Bardal EM, Vereijken B, Skjæret-Maroni N. Exergaming
    in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity and physical
    activity. <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>. 2023;15. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>'
  apa: 'Müller, H., Baumeister, J., Bardal, E. M., Vereijken, B., &#38; Skjæret-Maroni,
    N. (2023). Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on
    brain activity and physical activity. <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>,
    <i>15</i>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>'
  bibtex: '@article{Müller_Baumeister_Bardal_Vereijken_Skjæret-Maroni_2023, title={Exergaming
    in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity and physical
    activity}, volume={15}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>},
    journal={Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Müller,
    Helen and Baumeister, Jochen and Bardal, Ellen Marie and Vereijken, Beatrix and
    Skjæret-Maroni, Nina}, year={2023} }'
  chicago: 'Müller, Helen, Jochen Baumeister, Ellen Marie Bardal, Beatrix Vereijken,
    and Nina Skjæret-Maroni. “Exergaming in Older Adults: The Effects of Game Characteristics
    on Brain Activity and Physical Activity.” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>
    15 (2023). <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>.'
  ieee: 'H. Müller, J. Baumeister, E. M. Bardal, B. Vereijken, and N. Skjæret-Maroni,
    “Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity
    and physical activity,” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>, vol. 15, 2023,
    doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>.'
  mla: 'Müller, Helen, et al. “Exergaming in Older Adults: The Effects of Game Characteristics
    on Brain Activity and Physical Activity.” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>,
    vol. 15, Frontiers Media SA, 2023, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>.'
  short: H. Müller, J. Baumeister, E.M. Bardal, B. Vereijken, N. Skjæret-Maroni, Frontiers
    in Aging Neuroscience 15 (2023).
date_created: 2023-05-07T11:36:29Z
date_updated: 2023-05-07T11:36:56Z
department:
- _id: '17'
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859
intvolume: '        15'
keyword:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Aging
publication: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 1663-4365
publication_status: published
publisher: Frontiers Media SA
status: public
title: 'Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity
  and physical activity'
type: journal_article
user_id: '46'
volume: 15
year: '2023'
...
---
_id: '45149'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: <jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>Exergames are increasingly
    used in rehabilitation settings for older adults to train physical and cognitive
    abilities. To meet the potential that exergames hold, they need to be adapted
    to the individual abilities of the player and their training objectives. Therefore,
    it is important to know whether and how game characteristics affect their playing.
    The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of two different kinds of exergame
    (step game and balance game) played at two difficulty levels on brain activity
    and physical activity.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Twenty-eight
    older independently living adults played two different exergames at two difficulty
    levels each. In addition, the same movements as during gaming (leaning sideways
    with feet in place and stepping sideways) were performed as reference movements.
    Brain activity was recorded using a 64-channel EEG system to assess brain activity,
    while physical activity was recorded using an accelerometer at the lower back
    and a heart rate sensor. Source-space analysis was applied to analyze the power
    spectral density in theta (4 Hz–7 Hz) and alpha-2 (10 Hz–12 Hz) frequency bands.
    Vector magnitude was applied to the acceleration data.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Friedman
    ANOVA revealed significantly higher theta power for the exergaming conditions
    compared to the reference movement for both games. Alpha-2 power showed a more
    diverse pattern which might be attributed to task-specific conditions. Acceleration
    decreased significantly from the reference movement to the easy condition to the
    hard condition for both games.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>The
    results indicate that exergaming increases frontal theta activity irrespective
    of type of game or difficulty level, while physical activity decreases with increasing
    difficulty level. Heart rate was found to be an inappropriate measure in this
    population older adults. These findings contribute to understanding of how game
    characteristics affect physical and cognitive activity and consequently need to
    be taken into account when choosing appropriate games and game settings for exergame
    interventions.</jats:p></jats:sec>
author:
- first_name: Helen Martha
  full_name: Müller, Helen Martha
  id: '40188'
  last_name: Müller
- first_name: Jochen
  full_name: Baumeister, Jochen
  id: '46'
  last_name: Baumeister
  orcid: 0000-0003-2683-5826
- first_name: Ellen Marie
  full_name: Bardal, Ellen Marie
  last_name: Bardal
- first_name: Beatrix
  full_name: Vereijken, Beatrix
  last_name: Vereijken
- first_name: Nina
  full_name: Skjæret-Maroni, Nina
  last_name: Skjæret-Maroni
citation:
  ama: 'Müller HM, Baumeister J, Bardal EM, Vereijken B, Skjæret-Maroni N. Exergaming
    in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity and physical
    activity. <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>. 2023;15. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>'
  apa: 'Müller, H. M., Baumeister, J., Bardal, E. M., Vereijken, B., &#38; Skjæret-Maroni,
    N. (2023). Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on
    brain activity and physical activity. <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>,
    <i>15</i>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>'
  bibtex: '@article{Müller_Baumeister_Bardal_Vereijken_Skjæret-Maroni_2023, title={Exergaming
    in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity and physical
    activity}, volume={15}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>},
    journal={Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Müller,
    Helen Martha and Baumeister, Jochen and Bardal, Ellen Marie and Vereijken, Beatrix
    and Skjæret-Maroni, Nina}, year={2023} }'
  chicago: 'Müller, Helen Martha, Jochen Baumeister, Ellen Marie Bardal, Beatrix Vereijken,
    and Nina Skjæret-Maroni. “Exergaming in Older Adults: The Effects of Game Characteristics
    on Brain Activity and Physical Activity.” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>
    15 (2023). <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>.'
  ieee: 'H. M. Müller, J. Baumeister, E. M. Bardal, B. Vereijken, and N. Skjæret-Maroni,
    “Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity
    and physical activity,” <i>Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience</i>, vol. 15, 2023,
    doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>.'
  mla: 'Müller, Helen Martha, et al. “Exergaming in Older Adults: The Effects of Game
    Characteristics on Brain Activity and Physical Activity.” <i>Frontiers in Aging
    Neuroscience</i>, vol. 15, Frontiers Media SA, 2023, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859">10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859</a>.'
  short: H.M. Müller, J. Baumeister, E.M. Bardal, B. Vereijken, N. Skjæret-Maroni,
    Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 15 (2023).
date_created: 2023-05-19T09:26:08Z
date_updated: 2023-05-19T09:35:02Z
department:
- _id: '17'
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1143859
intvolume: '        15'
keyword:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Aging
language:
- iso: eng
publication: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 1663-4365
publication_status: published
publisher: Frontiers Media SA
status: public
title: 'Exergaming in older adults: the effects of game characteristics on brain activity
  and physical activity'
type: journal_article
user_id: '46'
volume: 15
year: '2023'
...