Due to blood pumping, more oxygen is supplied to the brain, so exercise clears the mind. However, recent studies have shown that the effects of exercise on memory are different. The earlier one starts exercising, the better the results will be. Understanding the brain helps education professionals improve learning tools, and new training programs appear every day, such as ISEP’s Master’s Degree in Neuroeducation, which are the basis of the educational system’s revolution.
Effects of exercising on memory
A study conducted by Van Dongen, Kersten, Wagner, Morris, and Fernández (2016) evaluated the effects of a single session of physical exercise on memory consolidation and long-term memory after studying.
The research involved 72 subjects who learned 90 associations between images and locations for 40 minutes before being randomly assigned to one of three groups: one exercised immediately; the second, four hours later; and the third did not exercise at all (Journal of Neurology, 2016).
The physical exercise consisted of 35 minutes of interval training on a bicycle at an intensity of up to 80% of maximum heart rate. After 48 hours, the study participants returned to demonstrate what they remembered while undergoing a brain MRI (Journal of Neurology, 2016).
Researchers found that those who exercised four hours after their learning session retained information better two days later than those who exercised immediately or those who remained sedentary. Furthermore, brain images showed that exercise after a period of time was associated with more precise representations in the hippocampus, an area relevant for learning and memory (Journal of Neurology, 2016).
Based on these results, researchers concluded that physical exercise optimizes memory capacity, especially if this activity is performed within a specific time interval and not immediately after learning (Journal of Neurology, 2016). These investigations are the basis of new neuroeducation programs for teachers.
Another study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2012) found that regular aerobic physical exercise increases memory and learning capacity because it allows the release of hormones that improve memory.
Hormones called “growth factors” are released during exercise and have been directly linked to brain health. The hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning and memory, is believed to directly benefit from these types of hormones.
For his part, Dr. Bruce Spiegelman from Harvard Medical School (2013) reported that a molecule and its byproduct increased their levels in the brain through resistance exercise. Spiegelman and his team found that raising the levels of the byproduct in circulation activated genes involved in cognition.
Neuroeducation: The relationship between exercise and learning
Based on these and other investigations, it has been concluded that exercise improves learning at three levels:
1. It optimizes our way of thinking, by improving alertness, attention, and motivation.
2. Learning prepares and stimulates nerve cells to connect with each other, which is the cellular basis for learning new information.
3. Finally, exercise encourages the development of new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus, a brain area related to memory and learning.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that physical exercise be part of the current educational system. Thanks to research and teacher training in neuroeducation, the way of teaching and learning is undergoing a complete change, offering new tools for optimizing the individual capacities of each child and improving the learning system.