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Swimming exercise improves short- and long-term memories: Time-course changes.
Mahmoud A Alomari1,2, Karem H Alzoubi3, Omar F Khabour4
1Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Physiological Reports
|June 10, 2021
Summary
Regular swimming exercise significantly enhances spatial memory in rats after seven days of training. Cognitive benefits plateau after this initial period, suggesting a consistent positive impact on learning and memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Exercise training is known to benefit memory formation.
- The specific timeline for exercise-induced memory enhancement is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-course of spatial memory improvements following swimming exercise training.
- To determine the duration of swimming exercise required for significant cognitive enhancement.
Main Methods:
- Young adult Wistar rats underwent swimming exercise (60 minutes/day, 5 days/week).
- Spatial memory was assessed using the radial arm water maze (RAWM) at 0, 1, 7, 14, and 28 days of training.
- Evaluated short-term and long-term memory recall and learning efficiency.
Main Results:
- No significant memory improvement was observed after 1 day of swimming exercise.
- Significant enhancements in learning and memory formation occurred after 7 days of training (p < 0.01).
- Error rates decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) after 7 days and remained stable up to 28 days, indicating a plateau in benefits.
Conclusions:
- Swimming exercise requires at least 7 days to significantly improve spatial learning and memory.
- Cognitive benefits from this exercise regimen plateau after 7 days, showing sustained improvements in both short-term and long-term memory.
- Findings provide a basis for using exercise to enhance cognitive function in healthy individuals.
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