I covered research on the benefits of frequent cycling for growing the hippocampus, which is the learning and memory center of the brain. In another large study I dove into, the researchers found that exercise improves brain function across all ages, with children and adolescents receiving the most significant benefits in memory. Those with ADHD experienced the greatest improvements in executive function, which encompasses cognitive processes and mental skills such as planning, memory, and problem-solving.
It’s clear from the mounting research that exercise is good news for our brains and bodies, including for kiddos. Will it help your kid get better grades and boost test scores? What type of exercise generates results? In another interesting study, researchers set off to find out. They pointed to prior research highlighting how short bouts of exercise are known to improve cognitive and academic performance in children.
The study
In a study published in the Journal of Psychology of Sport & Exercise, researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of short 9-minute bursts of high-intensity interval exercise on academic achievement. The study involved 25 children aged between 9 and 12. On three separate days, the children completed one of three conditions:
- High-intensity interval exercise (including high-knee walking, squats, jumping jacks, and lunges)
- Moderate-intensity cycling
- Seated rest
Students only completed an academic standard verbal comprehension test after the high-intensity exercise or the seated rest. The researchers also measured error-related negativity (ERN) using electroencephalography. ERN refers to a negative brainwave that can be detected using certain technology immediately after someone makes an error, typically within 50-100 milliseconds. ERN is linked to learning to avoid future errors and the “error monitoring system” in your brain.
The results
The results revealed the following:
- Engaging in high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) leads to both neurocognitive and academic benefits in children.
- The children who completed 9 minutes of HIIE showed a significantly lower ERN amplitude compared to moderate-intensity cycling and seated rest, indicating enhanced neural efficiency in error processing in the brain. Higher levels of ERN suggest mental distraction and focusing on errors.
- The kiddos who powered through those 9 minutes of HIIE also demonstrated higher academic performance and word recognition fluency scores compared to those who sat down and rested.
The takeaway
The takeaway from this study is that a short burst of more vigorous pre-exam exercise could improve academic scores and grades for kids. Compared to resting, those who completed exercises like jumping jacks and lunges in the classroom did better on the academic test. The more active kids were also better at focusing and bouncing right back after making a mistake on a test. It’s certainly worth encouraging kids to get those muscles moving, especially if there’s a test coming up.
