Bes

ides endurance training also resistance, coordination and multicomponent exercise training has a positive effect on cognitive functions (CF). However, it remains unclear if there are more types of physical training which have an impact on CF and brain activity, such as a motor skill training, where the focus lies on improving the technique. Therefore, the purpose of this RCT was to evaluate the effect of a 16-week track and field athletic training (motor skill training) on behavioral CF and brain activity of elderly, when compared to walking training (cardiovascular training) and to toning and relaxation training (active control group). A motoric test battery, questionnaires, and a cognitive test battery including EEG recordings was performed pre and post training intervention. The following outcomes are relevant for this analysis: Global cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), attention (d2-revision Test, Trail Making Test A, TMT), executive control function (and TMT B, Flanker task, Stroop task) and working memory (n-back task). Data was analyzed via mixed ANOVA. Sixty-Six older adults (age 64 ± 5; female 33; MoCA 27 ± 2) were included in the analysis. There was no statistically significant interaction between time and group. A significant main effect for time was found for d2: F(1, 42) = 26.07, p ≤ .001, partial eta² = .383 and TMT-A: F(1, 43) = 4.56, p = .038, partial eta² = .096. EEG data is currently being analyzed. The present findings indicate a group independent improvement in attention after 16 weeks of physical training.