Exercise improves short-term memory and recall

We store a lot of information in our mind – as memories. Most of it is delegated to our long term memory but there is some information we need to remember for immediate tasks such as learning, reasoning or completing a particular job. This is what we store in our short term memory – it’s almost like writing on a post it note.

Exercise shows another benefit for our memory. New research demonstrates improvement in short term memory and recall.

But sometimes our short term memory can fail us and we draw a complete blank. Advocates prescribe various physical and mental exercises, relaxation techniques, supplements and a healthy diet.

But now new research by Dr. David Marchant from Edge Hill University in Lancashire concludes that exercise can improve our short-term memory.

In two separate experiments healthy and active participants were given a list of words to learn and recall either before or after exercise, or before or after a period of rest. Exercise included 30 minutes of moderate intensity cycling.

The results showed that when participants recalled the words immediately after learning, they showed the best results when they had exercised before learning the words.

When asked to wait for 30 minutes between learning and recall, those that exercised before or after learning had better results than those that rested. But the best recall was when participants exercised after learning.

Dr Marchant concludes that an acute bout of aerobic exercise improves short term memory. Even though exercising before learning benefitted immediate recall, participants who exercised after learning and were asked to wait to recall the words performed the best.

Just like previous studies that have shown us how exercise can have an immediate memory enhancement, this research demonstrates that physical arousal through exercise improves memory and will benefit those who need to learn things.

Exercise has so many benefits for our health and wellbeing. Now it can help us remember things in the short term. Maybe we won’t even need post it notes anymore.

Source: British Psychological Society (BPS)