Acute Exercise and Academic Achievement in Middle School Students
Andrew T Harveson1, James C Hannon2, Timothy A Brusseau3
1Department of Kinesiology/College of Health Science, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 92503, USA. aharveson@calbaptist.edu.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|September 25, 2019
Summary
Acute resistance exercise significantly improved academic achievement and cognitive function in pre-adolescent students compared to non-exercise and aerobic exercise. These findings suggest incorporating resistance training in schools can boost student performance and health.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Science
- Cognitive Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Academic achievement and cognitive function are crucial for pre-adolescent development.
- The impact of different exercise modalities on cognitive and academic outcomes requires further investigation.
- Understanding acute exercise effects can inform physical activity guidelines in educational settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immediate effects of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and a non-exercise control on academic achievement and cognitive performance in pre-adolescent students.
- To compare the efficacy of resistance exercise versus aerobic exercise on cognitive and academic measures.
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover design involving 63 pre-adolescent students (mean age 13.7 years).
- Participants completed 20-minute sessions of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or non-exercise, separated by a 7-day washout period.
- Academic achievement was assessed using standardized mathematics tests, and cognitive function was measured using the Stroop Test (Dot, Word, Color tasks).
Main Results:
- Resistance exercise led to significantly higher scores on mathematics tests and all Stroop Test components compared to the non-exercise condition.
- While math performance did not differ between aerobic and resistance exercise, resistance exercise resulted in significantly better performance on all Stroop Test elements compared to aerobic exercise.
- Aerobic exercise did not show significant improvements over the non-exercise condition for academic or cognitive measures.
Conclusions:
- Acute resistance exercise positively influences academic achievement and cognitive function in pre-adolescent students.
- These findings support the integration of varied exercise modalities, particularly resistance training, into school settings to enhance academic performance and student well-being.
- Further research can explore the long-term effects and optimal prescription of resistance exercise for cognitive and academic benefits in youth.
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