Exercise Can Make You Smarter?

 by Patrick Vaughan

Evidence has arisen that Exercise and physical activity does indeed make you smarter! Here is the proof to back it up.

Study 1.)

In terms of achieving better retention in graduation rates here at MSU, graduate student Samantha Danbert, under the direction of Dr. Jim Pivarnik has undertaken a study based upon Academic Success and the Role of Recreational Sports Fitness Facilities. The study was split into two groups; those with a Campus Recreational Fitness Facilities [CRFF] membership, and those without one. The findings from this study were highly significant [p<0.05].

Results:

•  Those who had memberships had higher GPA’s, completed more credits, and were more likely to be retained as MSU students than those who did not have memberships.  (Danbert)

• There tends to be a strong correlation between those with fitness memberships and their level of academic achievement. (Danbert)

• This research helps to support the notion that providing students with better access to fitness facilities, could potentially aid in fostering the retention rate of students as proposed (Danbert)

Study 2.) 

Other studies have indicated that submaximal aerobic exercise performed for durations between 20-60 minutes, facilitates multiple cognitive processes critical to optimum performance and adaptive behavior. 

In a study by Tenenbaum et al., 8 team handball players decision-making abilities were evaluated while walking/running on a treadmill. Pictures of game-like situations were flashed for a period of two seconds, followed by a verbal response to the situation.

Results:

• Following exercise, people are better able to engage in action, concentrate, and solve problems than they are prior to exercise (Tomporowski).

•  Regardless of skill-level or experience, decisions were significantly better at higher intensities than at lower levels of exercise [Running vs. Walking] (Tomporowski).

• The consensus is that exercise does indeed influence the speed of decision-making once the information has been coded (Tomporowski).

Supporting Evidence/Additional Studies:

1. Learning complex movement sequences and utilizing problem-solving during athletics/exercise can stimulate the prefrontal cortex, which aids in carrying out executive functioning (Sallis)
2. Release of neurohormones during exercise, can help to improve classroom attentiveness (Sallis)
3. Continual exercise is associated with advantages in cognitive functioning, math, acuity, and reaction time (Sallis) 
4. Studies provided by SPARK [Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids], demonstrate that more active and physically fit students could indeed be better learners as well.           

a.   They increased the amount of Physical Activity within the scheduled day of 1^st-6^th graders, and decreased their time for instruction. Despite14-26% reduction in instruction time for subjects other than PE, there was an overall increase in fitness, psychomotor abilities, and class grades.

                                                              i.      Most notably is that there was no difference from the SPARK schools in standardized testing as opposed to other schools [Despite the 14-26% reduction time in instruction], and in addition the students in the SPARK program also scored higher than the control schools in terms of standardized mathematics testing. (Sallis)

To get a fresh start on working out for your brain, check out these home workout videos for exercises you can do during your down time at home, new ones will be posted every week! 

http://nutritionnatural.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html  

 -Click on this link here, OR on the Home Workouts link in the right column of this page- 


To learn more about how nutrition effects the brain, check out this link below!
http://nutritionnatural.blogspot.com/2013/08/nutrition-and-exercise-what-load-of.html
 

 

Works Cited

Danbert, Samantha J., James M. Pivarnik, Richard N. McNeil, and Ira J. Washington. "Academic Success: The Role of Campus Recreation Fitness Facilities." (Not Published): n. pag. Web.

Sallis, James F`. "Effects of Health-Related Physical Education on Academic Achievement: Project SPARK." Taylor and Francis. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July 2013.

Tomporowski, Phillip D. "Effects of Acute Bouts of Exercise on Cognition." Effects of Acute Bouts of Exercise on Cognition. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July 2013.