Browsing by Author "Basso, Julia C."

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
  • Thumbnail Image
    Acutely enhancing affective state and social connection following an online dance intervention during the COVID-19 social isolation crisis
    Humphries, Ashlee; Tasnim, Noor; Rugh, Rachel; Patrick, Morgan; Basso, Julia C. (2023-01-16)
    The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many throughout the world to isolate themselves from their respective communities to stop the spread of disease. Although this form of distancing can prevent the contraction of a virus, it results in social isolation and physical inactivity. Consequently, our communities have become heavily reliant on digital solutions to foster social connection and increase physical activity when forced to isolate. Dance is a multidimensional form of physical activity that includes sensory, motor, cognitive, rhythmic, creative, and social elements. Long-term, interventional studies in dance have shown positive effects on both mental and social health; however, little has been done to examine the acute effects and no studies to date have explored the relationship between the affective state and social outcomes of dance. We examined the hypothesis that online dance is associated with improvements in affective state and social connection during a time of social isolation, namely, the COVID-19 crisis. Healthy adults (age ≥ 18; n = 47) engaged in a single session of 60 min of self-selected online dance, completing a series of validated self-reported questionnaires before and after class. We found that online dance was associated with improvements in affective state as measured by increased positive affect and self-esteem and decreased negative affect and depressive symptoms. Additionally, online dance was associated with improvements in social and community connectedness. Further, we found that those who experienced the largest increases in self-esteem and decreases in negative affect demonstrated the largest gains in social connectivity. Although in-person dance classes may be optimal for formalized dance training, online dance instruction offers an accessible platform that can provide mental and social health benefits during the COVID-19 social isolation crisis. We conclude that through online dance, individuals can experience a connection between the body, mind, and community.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise
    Smith, Alana J.; Tasnim, Noor; Psaras, Zach; Gyamfi, Daphne; Makani, Krishna; Suzuki, Wendy A.; Basso, Julia C. (MyJove Corporation, 2024-01-26)
    Spatial navigation (SN) is the ability to locomote through the environment, which requires an understanding of where one is located in time and space. This capacity is known to rely on the sequential firing of place cells within the hippocampus. SN is an important behavior to investigate as this process deteriorates with age, especially in neurodegenerative disorders. However, the investigation of SN is limited by the lack of sophisticated behavioral techniques to assess this hippocampal-dependent task. Therefore, the goal of this protocol was to develop a novel, real-world approach to studying SN in humans. Specifically, an active virtual SN task was developed using a cross-platform game engine. During the encoding phase, participants navigated their way through a virtual city to locate landmarks. During the remembering phase, participants remembered where these reward locations were and delivered items to these locations. Time to find each location was captured and episodic memory was assessed by a free recall phase, including aspects of place, order, item, and association. Movement behavior (x, y, and z coordinates) was assessed through an asset available in the game engine. Importantly, results from this task demonstrate that it accurately captures both spatial learning and memory abilities as well as episodic memory. Further, findings indicate that this task is sensitive to exercise, which improves hippocampal functioning. Overall, the findings suggest a novel way to track human hippocampal functioning over the course of time, with this behavior being sensitive to physical activity training paradigms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Dance on the Brain: Enhancing Intra and Inter-Brain Synchrony
    Basso, Julia C.; Satyal, Medha K.; Rugh, Rachel (Frontiers, 2021-01-07)
    Dance has traditionally been viewed from a Eurocentric perspective as a mode of self-expression that involves the human body moving through space, performed for the purposes of art, and viewed by an audience. In this Hypothesis and Theory article, we synthesize findings from anthropology, sociology, psychology, dance pedagogy, and neuroscience to propose The Synchronicity Hypothesis of Dance, which states that humans dance to enhance both intra- and inter-brain synchrony. We outline a neurocentric definition of dance, which suggests that dance involves neurobehavioral processes in seven distinct areas including sensory, motor, cognitive, social, emotional, rhythmic, and creative. We explore The Synchronicity Hypothesis of Dance through several avenues. First, we examine evolutionary theories of dance, which suggest that dance drives interpersonal coordination. Second, we examine fundamental movement patterns, which emerge throughout development and are omnipresent across cultures of the world. Third, we examine how each of the seven neurobehaviors increases intraand inter-brain synchrony. Fourth, we examine the neuroimaging literature on dance to identify the brain regions most involved in and affected by dance. The findings presented here support our hypothesis that we engage in dance for the purpose of intrinsic reward, which as a result of dance-induced increases in neural synchrony, leads to enhanced interpersonal coordination. This hypothesis suggests that dance may be helpful to repattern oscillatory activity, leading to clinical improvements in autism spectrum disorder and other disorders with oscillatory activity impairments. Finally, we offer suggestions for future directions and discuss the idea that our consciousness can be redefined not just as an individual process but as a shared experience that we can positively influence by dancing together.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Development and validation of the multidimensional impacts of movement scale (MIMS) for yoga, weightlifting, and running
    Lynn, Sarah; Basso, Julia C. (Frontiers Media, 2023-03-01)
    Background: Movement is an essential element in maintaining overall well-being, producing both physical and mental health benefits. Yoga is a mindful movement practice, with traditional yogic texts providing a framework, called the Koshas, that delineates how an intentional movement practice may impact multidimensional aspects of an individual. To date, no self-report measure examines the multifaceted ways that movement affects the individual at a physical and psychological level. Therefore, we developed the Multidimensional Impacts of Movement Scale (MIMS) by aligning ancient yogic traditions with current neuroscientific concepts. Methods: MIMS was developed based on the five categories of the Koshas; 9 questions per Kosha resulted in 45 total questions. Participants (n = 103) selfidentified as having yoga, running, or weightlifting as their primary movement practice, engaging in this practice at least 30 min per session, once a week, for the past 3 months. Participants engaged in their usual movement practice and then (within 2 h of their workout session) completed the MIMS along with a series of previously validated questionnaires. After a period of 2 weeks, participants completed their normal movement practice once again and took the MIMS a second time to assess test–retest reliability and Cronbach’s alpha. Validity testing included convergent and divergent validity testing through Pearson’s productmoment correlations and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: One-hundred and three participants completed all study measures. Test– retest reliability demonstrated stability over time (r = 0.737, p < 0.001). Cronbach’s alpha was between 0.775 and 0.840 for each of the factors, p < 0.001. MIMS was sensitive to confirmatory and discriminatory validity testing. Validity was also demonstrated through confirmatory factor analysis (i.e., Chi Square, Comparative Fit Index, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation). Conclusion: MIMS is a valid and reliable tool to measure the multidimensional impacts of movement. The tool provides information about the effects of movement on a range of physical and psychological elements including subscales representing the body, energy, mind, intuition, and contentment. Physical activities that include aspects of mindfulness may demonstrate the most robust effects on the MIMS.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Dispositional mindfulness and its relationship to exercise motivation and experience
    Lynn, Sarah; Satyal, Medha Kumari; Smith, Alana J.; Tasnim, Noor; Gyamfi, Daphne; English, Daniel F.; Suzuki, Wendy A.; Basso, Julia C. (Frontiers Media, 2022-11-29)
    Mindfulness is the psychological state of staying attuned to the present moment, without ruminating on past or future events, and allowing thoughts, feelings, or sensations to arise without judgment or attachment. Previous work has shown that heightened dispositional mindfulness is associated with the awareness of the importance of exercise, exercise self-efficacy, exercise motivation, and self-reported exercise level. However, more methodologically rigorous studies are needed to understand the relationship between mindfulness and the psychological mechanisms related to exercise motivation, including the identification of why individuals are motivated to engage in exercise, the subjective experience of exercise, and the propensity for exercise dependence and addiction. In this cross-sectional investigation, we utilized the framework of the Self-Determination Theory to examine the hypothesis that heightened dispositional mindfulness (as measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) would be associated with increased levels of exercise motivation that were derived by higher levels of autonomous self-regulation. Individuals were recruited from urban areas who self-reported either low (exercising 2 or fewer times per week for 20 min or less; n = 78) or moderate (exercising 1 or 2 times per week for 20 min or more; n = 127) levels of exercise engagement. As hypothesized, heightened dispositional mindfulness was significantly associated with heightened levels of exercise self-determination as measured by the Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire, with this effect being driven by negative associations with amotivation, external regulation, and introjected regulation. Additionally, we found that heightened dispositional mindfulness was associated with lower levels of psychological distress upon exercise and decreased exercise dependence/addiction. Overall, increased dispositional mindfulness may support a healthy relationship with exercise. These findings have implications for the utility of mindfulness interventions to support the regulation of exercise behaviors in service of enhancing exercise motivation and engagement.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Dispositional mindfulness and its relationship to exercise motivation and experience
    Lynn, Sarah; Satyal, Medha Kumari; Smith, Alana J.; Tasnim, Noor; Gyamfi, Daphne; English, Daniel F.; Suzuki, Wendy A.; Basso, Julia C. (Frontiers, 2022-11)
    Mindfulness is the psychological state of staying attuned to the present moment, without ruminating on past or future events, and allowing thoughts, feelings, or sensations to arise without judgment or attachment. Previous work has shown that heightened dispositional mindfulness is associated with the awareness of the importance of exercise, exercise self-efficacy, exercise motivation, and self-reported exercise level. However, more methodologically rigorous studies are needed to understand the relationship between mindfulness and the psychological mechanisms related to exercise motivation, including the identification of why individuals are motivated to engage in exercise, the subjective experience of exercise, and the propensity for exercise dependence and addiction. In this cross-sectional investigation, we utilized the framework of the Self-Determination Theory to examine the hypothesis that heightened dispositional mindfulness (as measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale) would be associated with increased levels of exercise motivation that were derived by higher levels of autonomous self-regulation. Individuals were recruited from urban areas who self-reported either low (exercising 2 or fewer times per week for 20 min or less; n = 78) or moderate (exercising 1 or 2 times per week for 20 min or more; n = 127) levels of exercise engagement. As hypothesized, heightened dispositional mindfulness was significantly associated with heightened levels of exercise self-determination as measured by the Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire, with this effect being driven by negative associations with amotivation, external regulation, and introjected regulation. Additionally, we found that heightened dispositional mindfulness was associated with lower levels of psychological distress upon exercise and decreased exercise dependence/addiction. Overall, increased dispositional mindfulness may support a healthy relationship with exercise. These findings have implications for the utility of mindfulness interventions to support the regulation of exercise behaviors in service of enhancing exercise motivation and engagement.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Dissociation and other trauma symptomatology are linked to imbalance in the competing neurobehavioral decision systems
    Basso, Julia C.; Satyal, Medha K.; McKee, Kevin L.; Lynn, Sarah; Gyamfi, Daphne; Bickel, Warren K. (Frontiers Media, 2024-01-31)
    Objective: Dissociation is a conscious state characterized by alterations in sensation and perception and is thought to arise from traumatic life experiences. Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with high levels of dissociation show impairments in cognitive-emotional processes. Therefore, using the Competing Neurobehavioral Decisions System (CNDS) theory, we used statistical modeling to examine whether dissociative experience and trauma symptoms are independently predicted by impulsivity, risk-seeking, affective state (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress, and negative affect), and trauma history. Method: In this cross-sectional study design, data were collected via Amazon Mechanical Turk from a total of n = 557 English-speaking participants in the United States. Using Qualtrics, participants answered a series of self-reported questionnaires and completed several neurocognitive tasks. Three independent multiple linear regression models were conducted to assess whether impulsivity, risk seeking, affective state, and trauma history predict depersonalization, trauma symptoms, and PTSD symptoms. Results: As hypothesized, we found that depersonalization and other trauma symptoms are associated with heightened impulsivity, increased risk-seeking, impaired affective states, and a history of traumatic experiences. Conclusion: We demonstrate that an imbalanced CNDS (i.e., hyperimpulsive/ hypoexecutive), as evidenced by decreased future valuation, increased risk seeking, and impaired affective states, predicts heightened depersonalization and other trauma and PTSD symptomatology. This is the first time that dissociation has been connected to delay discounting (i.e., the tendency to place more value on rewards received immediately compared to farther in the future). Interventions that positively impact areas of the CNDS, such as episodic future thinking or mindfulness meditation, may be a target to help decrease dissociative symptoms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Editorial: Effects of performing arts training on the brain, (socio)cognitive and motor functions across the lifespan
    Kausel, Leonie; Basso, Julia C.; Grinspun, Noemí; Alain, Claude (Frontiers Media, 2023-12-06)
    Performing arts are a cultural expression that is ubiquitous around the world and consists of arts that are performed for an audience, such as music, dance, and drama. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in understanding how this expressive, and in essence social activity, impacts brain development and plasticity. This topic aimed to collect evidence on how the brain and (socio)cognitive and motor functions are influenced by performing arts training along the lifespan, deepening the current knowledge on this subject and helping to unravel the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie these changes. The five articles presented in this Research Topic explore research on an acting intervention, cover matters related to dance training, identify variables related to music sophistication, and focus on performing arts and musical training.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Effects of a Neuroscience-Based Mindfulness Meditation Program on Psychological Health: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
    Lynn, Sarah; Basso, Julia C. (JMIR Publications, 2023)
    Background: Mindfulness and meditation have a rich historical tradition, and a growing scientific base of evidence supports their use in creating positive psychological and neuroplastic changes for practitioners. Although meditation can be taught in various ways, the scientific community has yet to systematically study the impact of different types of meditation on neuropsychological outcomes, especially as it pertains to digital implementation. Therefore, it is critical that the instruction of mindfulness be evidence based because meditation is being used in both scientific and clinical settings. Objective: This study investigated the use of teacher cueing and the integration of neuroscience education into a meditation program. Compassion cueing was chosen as the element of experimental manipulation because traditional lineages of Buddhist meditation teach compassion for self and others as one of the primary outcomes of meditation. We hypothesized that participants receiving compassion cueing would have enhanced neuropsychological outcomes compared with those receiving functional cueing and that gains in neuroscience knowledge would relate to positive neuropsychological outcomes. Methods: Participants (n=89) were randomized to receive either functional cueing (control group) or compassion cueing (experimental group) and engaged with five 10-minute meditation sessions a week for 4 weeks. All intervention sessions were administered through digital presentation. All participants completed ecological momentary assessments before and after the daily intervention, as well as pre- and postintervention questionnaires. Results: Participants demonstrated significant benefits over time, including increased mindfulness and self-compassion, decreased depression, and gains in neuroscience content (all P<.001); however, no significant between-group differences were found. Daily scores from each day of the intervention showed a statistically significant shift from active toward settled. Importantly, long-term increases in mindfulness were positively correlated to changes in compassion (r=0.326; P=.009) and self-compassion (r=0.424; P<.001) and negatively correlated to changes in anxiety (r=–0.266; P=.03) and depression (r=–0.271; P=.03). Finally, the acute effects of meditation were significantly correlated to the longitudinal outcomes (with a small-to-medium effect size), especially those relevant to mindfulness. Conclusions: We developed a novel neuroscience-based education–meditation program that enhanced self-regulation as evidenced by improved mindfulness, self-compassion, and mood state. Our findings demonstrate the behavioral importance of engaging with mindfulness meditation and reinforce the idea that the benefits of meditation are independent of teacher cueing behavior. Future studies will need to investigate the brain-based changes underlying these meditation-induced outcomes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Examining the Effect of Increased Aerobic Exercise in Moderately Fit Adults on Psychological State and Cognitive Function
    Basso, Julia C.; Oberlin, Douglas J.; Satyal, Medha K.; O’Brien, Catherine E.; Crosta, Christen; Psaras, Zach; Metpally, Anvitha; Suzuki, Wendy A. (Frontiers Media, 2022-07-12)
    Regular physical exercise can decrease the risk for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, increase life expectancy, and promote psychological health and neurocognitive functioning. Cross-sectional studies show that cardiorespiratory fitness level (VO₂ max) is associated with enhanced brain health, including improved mood state and heightened cognitive performance. Interventional studies are consistent with these cross-sectional studies, but most have focused on low-fit populations. Few such studies have asked if increasing levels of physical activity in moderately fit people can significantly enhance mood, motivation, and cognition. Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of increasing aerobic exercise in moderately fit individuals on psychological state and cognitive performance.We randomly assigned moderately fit healthy adults, 25–59 years of age, who were engaged in one or two aerobic exercise sessions per week to either maintain their exercise regimen (n = 41) or increase their exercise regimen (i.e., 4–7 aerobic workouts per week; n = 39) for a duration of 3 months. Both before and after the intervention, we assessed aerobic capacity using a modified cardiorespiratory fitness test, and hippocampal functioning via various neuropsychological assessments including a spatial navigation task and the Mnemonic Similarity Task as well as self-reported measures including the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Rumination Scale, Eating Disorders Examination, Eating Attitudes Test, Body Attitudes Test, and Behavioral Regulation of Exercise Questionnaire. Consistent with our initial working hypotheses, we found that increasing exercise significantly decreased measures of negative affect, including fear, sadness, guilt, and hostility, as well as improved body image. Further, we found that the total number of workouts was significantly associated with improved spatial navigation abilities and body image as well as reduced anxiety, general negative affect, fear, sadness, hostility, rumination, and disordered eating. In addition, increases in fitness levels were significantly associated with improved episodic memory and exercise motivation as well as decreased stress and disordered eating. Our findings are some of the first to indicate that in middle-aged moderately-fit adults, continuing to increase exercise levels in an already ongoing fitness regimen is associated with additional benefits for both psychological and cognitive health.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Granular retrosplenial cortex layer 2/3 generates high-frequency oscillations dynamically coupled with hippocampal rhythms across brain states
    Arndt, Kaiser C.; Gilbert, Earl T.; Klaver, Lianne M.F.; Kim, Jongwoon; Buhler, Chelsea M.; Basso, Julia C.; McKenzie, Sam; English, Daniel Fine (CellPress, 2024-03-26)
    The granular retrosplenial cortex (gRSC) exhibits high-frequency oscillations (HFOs; ~150 Hz), which can be driven by a hippocampus-subiculum pathway. How the cellular-synaptic and laminar organization of gRSC facilitates HFOs is unknown. Here, we probe gRSC HFO generation and coupling with hippocampal rhythms using focal optogenetics and silicon-probe recordings in behaving mice. ChR2-mediated excitation of CaMKII-expressing cells in L2/3 or L5 induces HFOs, but spontaneous HFOs are found only in L2/3, where HFO power is highest. HFOs couple to CA1 sharp wave-ripples (SPW-Rs) during rest and the descending phase of theta. gRSC HFO current sources and sinks are the same for events during both SPW-Rs and theta oscillations. Independent component analysis shows that high gamma (50–100 Hz) in CA1 stratum lacunosum moleculare is comodulated with HFO power. HFOs may thus facilitate interregional communication of a multisynaptic loop between the gRSC, hippocampus, and medial entorhinal cortex during distinct brain and behavioral states.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Healing minds, moving bodies: measuring the mental health effects of online dance during the COVID-19 pandemic
    Rugh, Rachel; Humphries, Ashlee; Tasnim, Noor; Basso, Julia C. (Routledge, 2022-06)
    Use of breath, close physical proximity, and tactile cues are some of the unique facets of dance training. In March of 2020, as COVID-19 lockdowns occurred, these aspects were removed from the lexicon of dance educators as virtual learning took the place of in-person training. This data-driven project explores the benefits and challenges of virtual dance, examining whether online dance can acutely improve mental health and enhance social connectivity. We explore our findings from an education perspective, focusing on learning style, class experience, and dance history. Our findings suggest that online dance can improve mood and increase community connectedness in healthy adults. Importantly, we found that an individual's trait learning style can influence the effectiveness of online learning, with tactile learners benefitting the most in terms of mood state and visual learners benefitting the most in terms of social connectivity. Additionally, we found that greater levels of experienced enjoyment provided the greatest benefits to mood state, whereas greater levels of perceived difficulty may have detrimental effects. We suggest best practices for online dance learning, provide future areas of research, and highlight the importance of using online learning to increase dance accessibility to diverse populations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Improving Mindfulness Outcomes and Measurements to Support Self-Regulation
    Lynn, Sarah (Virginia Tech, 2022-06-08)
    The field of mindfulness research is rapidly growing as mindfulness is being utilized as a tool to improve mental and cognitive health. Mindfulness is paying attention in the present moment with non-judgmental awareness. As the research body increases, weaknesses in mindfulness research have surfaced. There is a need for improved measurement tools, an increased understanding of, meditation techniques used, the dose of meditation, and the population samples being studied. Meditation and movement are both tools that can improve an individual's mindfulness. The proposed dissertation will investigate mindfulness through three studies. Study 1 was completed in a population of individual members of the International Quit and Recovery Registry and met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition criteria for substance use disorder. It was found that individuals with higher mindfulness and engagement with Integrative Health Practices demonstrate success in recovery, measured by the World-Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, craving, and Days in Recovery and are more likely to have reached remission. Engagement with meditation showed more and higher correlations with success in recovery than other Integrative Health Practices measured. Study 2 investigated how mindfulness is taught. Participants were divided into two groups, comparing traditional cueing to compassion cueing. Participants received neuroscience education paired with weekly meditation techniques. There were no group differences; however, all participants expressed improvements in mindfulness, self-compassion, decreased depression symptoms, and gains in neuroscience knowledge. The impact of mindfulness curriculum development can be seen through differences in daily outcomes assessing participants' thoughts, emotions, and body on a 10-point Likert scale from settled to active. Study 3 validated a new tool to measure the multidimensional impacts of movement based on a traditional yogic framework and validated with neuroscience tools. The Multidimensional Impacts of Movement Scale (MIMS) is a valid and reliable tool showing stability over time (r = 0.737, p<0.001) and strong Cronbach's Alpha for each scale ranging from α = 0.775 to α = 0.840. These three studies combine as a body of work supporting continued research in the field of mindfulness by adding new knowledge about teaching mindfulness, measuring mindfulness, and how mindfulness can be applied to improve quality of recovery for individuals with substance use disorder.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Moving Online Together: Enhancing Mental Health and Social Connection Through a Virtual Dance Class During COVID-19
    Humphries, Ashlee; Basso, Julia C.; Rockwell, Michelle S.; Zabinsky, Jennifer S. (Virginia Tech, 2021-05-19)
    Physical activity has profound acute effects on the body and brain, causing a cascade of beneficial physiological and psychological processes to occur. Dance, a multidimensional form of physical activity, has shown similar positive effects in long-term studies, but no studies to date have looked at the relationship between mental health and social outcomes of dance. In March of 2020, the quarantine that took place due to COVID-19 caused a sense of social isolation, lack of physical connection, and increased mental health issues. In this study, we explore the hypothesis that online dance can acutely improve mental health and connection during a time of isolation. N=47 healthy adults completed a series of self-reported Qualtrics questionnaires before and after a single 60- minute online dance session. Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests, Pearson's correlations, and linear regressions. Online dance acutely improved mental health by increasing positive affect and self-esteem while decreasing negative affect and depression. Social and community connectedness were also enhanced, with those who experienced the largest decreases in negative affect demonstrating the largest gains in social connectivity. Further, an individual’s trait learning style influenced class efficacy, with tactile learners benefitting the most in mood state and visual learners benefitting the most socially. Finally, we found that greater levels of experienced enjoyment improved mood state, whereas greater levels of perceived difficulty resulted in increased anxiety. We suggest best practices for online dance, provide future areas of research, and highlight the importance of using online learning to increase dance accessibility to diverse populations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Neurobehavioral and Neurophysiological Correlates of Health Behaviors
    Satyal, Medha Kumari (Virginia Tech, 2022-01-19)
    Modifiable health behaviors are a leading cause of mortality and chronic disease in the United States. Engagement in maladaptive health behaviors is linked to poor physical, psychological, and cognitive outcomes including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, and depression. Using a neurobehavioral approach, I examined the hypothesis that neurobehaviors are impaired in clinical populations, and that exercise improves these neurobehaviors as well as the underlying mechanisms. In the first study, I found that a range of neurobehaviors are affected in individuals with obesity, indicating hyperactivity of the reward system and hypoactivity of the executive system. Using these neurobehaviors as predictors, I created a neurobehavioral model predicting obesity with an accuracy of 65%. In the second study, I examined neurobehaviors in a population of individuals in recovery from substance misuse. I found that neurobehaviors are altered in this population suggesting heightened activity of the executive system supports success in recovery. In the third study, I examined the effects of a long-term exercise program on a range of neurobehaviors and neurophysiology as measured through electroencephalography. I found that long-term exercise improved psychological state, memory, and attention. Additionally, I found that decreased cortical activity in response to exercise is associated with improvements in psychological state. Collectively, these findings suggest that there is a bi-directional relationship between the body and brain, with optimal physical health promoting optimal mental functioning. Additionally, these findings suggest that interventions that support improved neurobehaviors and neural circuitry are critical to promote engagement in positive health behaviors.