Closed-skill exercise
Closed-skill exercise has been studied in 8 papers since 2017: 3 trials and 1 observational study in people, 3 reviews. The newest paper, Jun 25, 2025: “The Impact of Open-Skill Exercises and E-Sports on Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review of Their Role in Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia”.
8 papers study it5 findingsUpdated
“the open- and closed-skill groups showed significantly faster responses than the control group in the switch trials after the exercise intervention”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 2 independent labs in 3 countries
- Funders: Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan and 1 more
- Human trial3
- Humans1
Studies in people
2 studies gave closed-skill exercise to people and measured what changed.
up: Increases BDNF
Randomized trial39 peopleaged 55–75 years12 weeks
BMC neuroscience, Nov 25, 2021
down: Decreases task-switching reaction time
up: Increases n-back accuracy
up: Increases ERP P3 amplitude5.38 μV vs 3.50 μV
Randomized trial69 peoplesolely of menaged 60–80 years old24 weeks
Community-dwelling men aged 60–80 years old living independently with a sedentary lifestyle
Frontiers in aging neuroscience, Sep 12, 2017
What did studies of Closed-skill exercise find?
4Studies of Closed-skill exercise measured 4 outcomes; the most studied are ERP P3 amplitude (1 study), BDNF (1) and n-back accuracy (1).
ERP P3 amplitude
upin humans1
1 study
ERP P3 amplitude
upin humans1
Closed-skill exercise increases ERP P3 amplitude in humans (5.38 μV vs 3.50 μV).
“both open- (5.79 μV) and closed-skill (5.38 μV) groups showed significantly larger P3 amplitudes as compared to the control group (3.50 μV) after the intervention”
Human trial24 weeksmalesn = 69
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
Closed-skill exercise increases ERP P3 amplitude in humans.
“the two exercise groups exhibited significantly larger P3 amplitudes on the frontal-to-parietal cortex areas after the exercise intervention relative to the baseline”
Human trialduring task switching and N-back tasks; compared with baselinebike riding or brisk walking/joggingfrontal-to-parietal cortex6 monthsmalesn = 22
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
BDNF
upin humans1
1 study
BDNF
upin humans1
Closed-skill exercise increases BDNF in humans.
“As shown in Fig., the increase in BDNFS was significantly higher in the aOSE and the aCSE group compared to the CG.”
Human trialacute exercise12 weeks
BMC neuroscience
N-back accuracy
upin humans1
1 study
N-back accuracy
upin humans1
Closed-skill exercise increases n-back accuracy in humans.
“a greater improvement after the exercise intervention for the closed-skill group than the open-skill and control groups”
Human trial24 weeksmalesn = 69
Frontiers in aging neuroscience
Task-switching reaction time
downin humans1
1 study
Task-switching reaction time
downin humans1
Closed-skill exercise decreases task-switching reaction time in humans.
“the open- and closed-skill groups showed significantly faster responses than the control group in the switch trials after the exercise intervention”
Human trial24 weeksmalesn = 69
Frontiers in aging neuroscience