REVIEW ARTICLE Effects of physical activity on the P300 component in elderly people: a systematic review Renata V. PEDROSO, 1 Francisco J. FRAGA, 2 Carlos AY  AN, 3 José Maria CANCELA CARRAL, 3 Laís SCARPARI 1 and Ruth F. SANTOS-GALDURÓZ 1,4 1 Department of Physical Education, Institute of Biosciences, Physical Activity and Aging Lab, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, 2 Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences Center (CECS), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), 4 Center of Mathematics, Computing and Cogni- tion, University Federal of ABC, Santo André, Bra- zil and 3 Department of Special Didactics, Faculty of Education and Sport Science, HealthyFit Group, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain Correspondence: Renata V. Pedroso, Professor, MD, Institute of Biosciences, Department of Physical Education, UNESP – University State of São Paulo, Physical Activity and Aging Lab(LAFE), Avenue 24A, Number 1515, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil. Email: re.pedroso@hotmail.com Received 4 May 2016; revision received 3 October 2016; accepted 21 November 2016. Disclosure: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose. Key words: brain, cortical activity, P300, physical activity. Abstract The effects of physical activity on brain function can be assessed through event-related potentials (P300) that reflect cortical activities related to cog- nitive functions. P300 latency represents the information processing time; longer latencies represent slower processing. P300 amplitude is associated with the attentional system and working memory, with higher amplitudes representing more preserved functions. This systematic review summarizes the literature concerning the effects of physical activity and exercise on P300 in the elderly. Databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, Psy- cINFO, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Biological Abstracts, were searched for arti- cles up to November 2015. Articles were considered for inclusion if they were studies of the elderly, assessed P300, and evaluated the influence of physical activity on P300 or the effect of physical exercise training on P300. Of the 1227 articles found, 14 investigations matched the inclusion criteria. Nine analyzed the influence of physical activity on P300 in the elderly, and five examined the effects of physical exercise on P300 in the elderly. The obtained results showed that physically active elderly people have shor- tened P300 latency and higher amplitude. Physical exercise, especially those involving aerobic or resistance training, seems to have marked bene- ficial effects on P300 in the elderly. Evidence shows that physical activity and physical exercise positively influence cortical activities related to cogni- tive functions, as indicated by P300, in elderly people. INTRODUCTION The relationship between physical activity (PA) and cognitive decline associated with ageing has been increasingly investigated throughout the last decade. Studies have shown that maintaining an active life- style or engaging in PA regularly can improve mental health. 1 Several studies have shown that PA can increase brain perfusion; alter cellular structures; promote angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis; and contribute to an increase of neurotransmitters. 2 As a consequence, the benefits of PA result in the improvement of global cognitive functions as well as executive functions. In this regard, engaging in PA can stimulate attention and information processing, which are both key executive functions, because of its effects on the neural circuits. 3 It has been sug- gested that such effects should be assessed not only by subjective and behavioural measures but also by means of non-intrusive neurophysiological methods such as electroencephalography. 4 Indeed, to provide an explanation about how PA modulates neuronal circuits, several studies have analyzed electroence- phalographic activity, with a focus on event-related potential. 5,6 An important component of event-related poten- tial, which reflects cortical activities related to cogni- tive functions, is P300 (or P3). P300 is a positive curve of great amplitude that is generated from 250 to 500 ms after the presence of a targeted (and © 2017 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society 1 doi:10.1111/psyg.12242 PSYCHOGERIATRICS 2017