Effects of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Memory in 6th Grade Children

Abstract

Research supports the positive effects of exercise on cognitive performance by children. However, a limited number of studies have explored the effects specifically on memory. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an acute bout of exercise on learning, short-term memory, and long-term memory in a sample of children. Children were randomly assigned to an exercise condition or to a no-treatment control condition and then performed repeated trials on an auditory verbal learning task. In the exercise condition, participants performed the PACER task, an aerobic fitness assessment, in their physical education class before performing the memory task. In the control condition, participants performed the memory task at the beginning of their physical education class. Results showed that participants in the exercise condition demonstrated significantly better learning of the word lists and significantly better recall of the words after a brief delay. There were not significant differences in recognition of the words after an approximately 24-hr delay. These results provide evidence in a school setting that an acute bout of exercise provides benefits for verbal learning and long-term memory. Future research should be designed to identify the extent to which these findings translate to academic measures.

Physical Activity, Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Academic Achievement in Children

“…Researchers have remained focused on moderate intensity PA, but used a broader range of PA durations (∼4 min to 42 min) and more varied approaches in PA mode (e.g., standard PE classes (127); team games (125); EF specific games and activities (92); aerobic circuit training (81, 125); running tasks (33, 44, 68); short activity breaks (110). These researchers have also focused on a more diverse array of cognitive domains including measures of EF (e.g., working memory, inhibition), attention, memory, and learning.…”

Exercise Regulation of Cognitive Function and Neuroplasticity in the Healthy and Diseased Brain

“…32 Children exposed to an aerobic fitness assessment (PACER task), demonstrated significantly better learning of the word lists and significantly better recall of the words after a brief delay. 33 Further, rodent work demonstrates that a single 3-h bout of wheel running significantly enhanced the acquisition, extinction, and reconsolidation of context-conditioned fear. 34 It is clear that both acute and chronic exercise paradigms influence learning and memory.…”

“…However, the influence of acute exercise is ephemeral. Benefits from acute exercise are no longer apparent after 24 h. 33 Therefore, the remainder of this chapter will focus on the influence of chronic exercise exposure. Specifically, in section 3, we will examine the mechanisms through which chronic exercise exposure exerts it influence on cognitive function.…”

The Association between Physical Activity During the Day and Long-Term Memory Stability

“…Interestingly, although Labban and Etnier21 observed a lack of modulations in long-term memory when exercise was performed during a 35 minute interval between encoding and retrieval (see also22), superior memory performance was observed when participants exercised for 30 minutes at a moderate intensity prior to memory encoding. Indeed, converging evidence suggests that physical activity prior to the encoding of information is beneficial for long-term memory21232425. However, the extent to which engaging in physical activity during the period between encoding and retrieval is less well understood.…”