UNCG PAC Lab

Physical Activity and Cognition Research Lab

Led by Dr. Jennifer Etnier, Department of Kinesiology

Faculty, staff, and student researchers in The PAC LAB FOCUS ON IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE.

About The PAC Lab

Both single sessions of physical activity and physical activity programs have been shown to be causally linked to improvements in cognitive performance. However, we do not have a good understanding of how to use physical activity to achieve the greatest cognitive benefits.

Faculty, staff, and students in the PAC Lab are pursuing questions related to the mechanisms underlying these effects, the dose response nature of the effects, and the specific populations for whom exercise is most beneficial. Learn more about the lab’s Lines of Research.

Research conducted in this lab is often interdisciplinary in nature with on-going collaborations with faculty members in Applied Neuromechanics, Exercise Physiology, Gerontology, Human Development and Family Studies, Nutrition, and Psychology.

Current Projects

iSTEP Study Logo

RECRUITING NOW! iSTEP is a federally funded research project exploring the process and benefits of exercise promotion in older adults. We need adults, 65 and older, who are exercising less than 60 minutes/week to join a no-cost exercise program for 6 months. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Alzheimers Association Memory Complaints Study

Memory Complaints Study

RECRUITING NOW! To study the benefits of exercise promotion in older adults, we will be recruiting older adults who are experiencing memory complaints and exercising less than 60 minutes/week to join a no-cost exercise program for 6 months. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Exercise on Memory and Brain Activity

ENROLLING NOW! To understand the effect of exercise on memory and brain activity in older adults, ages 60-75 who engage in at least 90 minutes/week of physical activity to participate in a series of cognitive tasks while undergoing MRI scanning. Graduate Student Dissertation Study.

Physical Activity and Alzheimer’s Disease II

PAAD2 is a federally funded research project that explores the protective benefit of exercise for people with a family history of Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. PAAD2 is no longer recruiting new participants; Enrollment was completed October 2023. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

PARTICIPATE

Are you interested in joining a study or curious about being a research participant? Take a look at our Current Projects!

Contact US

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 336-334-4765

Dr. Etnier: [email protected]

LOCATION

UNC Greensboro
Department of Kinesiology
1408 Walker Avenue
250 Coleman Building
Greensboro, NC 27412

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