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Finding methods to protect or even enhance the cognitive vitality of older adults is paramount. So far, the effects of aerobic and strength training on cognition have been investigated thoroughly. However, there is a research gap concerning the effects of a motor coordination training on the cognition. During the past few years, there has been a special emphasis on a specific type of motor coordination, the bimanual coordination, and its impact on the cognitive functions. It has been proved that bimanual tasks lead to interhemispheric interaction across brain areas. In addition, there are certain brain regions that affect and get affected both from bimanual motor coordination movements, as well as cognitive functions, such as the executive functions and especially the inhibitory control. This could lead to an improvement of certain cognitive functions, after the conduction of a bimanual motor coordination task. This book presents the results of a randomized controlled experimental trial testing the effects of a short-term intervention on certain cognitive functions in elderly people.

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Eleftheria Giannouli is research assistant at the Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology and PhD candidate at the Post-Graduate College ´Restricted Mobility in Old age´ at the German Sport University Cologne. Her research interests are especially elderly peoples´ cognitive functions and their potential improvement through physical activity.

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