We know that exercise is good for the body, but how about the brain?
And more specifically, does physical activity help children learn better?
The latest science reveals the effects of movement on children’s brains, and shows that exercise can be a powerful tool for learning.
We have known for a while that children with good cardiovascular fitness have better cognitive function, memory, and ability to focus.
But what we haven’t been certain about is causality — Is exercise increasing memory and attention span, or is it that children who have good memory and attention like to exercise?
Over the last five years, an increasing body of evidence proves that the answer is the former: Exercise improves memory and learning.
The latest findings could have huge implications for kids’ study habits and school curriculums (not to mention the routines of adult workers).
Here is what some of the studies show:
Exercise after learning improves retention
This study revealed that people who exercised 4 hours after a memory test (the test involved seeing and remembering very detailed pictures) had better retention 24 hours after the test. The results indicate that…
