Anyone can learn and understand more after just 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise.
That is the finding of a University of Western Ontario study published in the January 2018 issue of Neuropsychologia.
The effects of 10 minutes of exercise appear to be immediate. In the study, a group used an exercise bike for 10 minutes and was then tested on reaction time in completing a non-standard task. The exercisers had an immediate 14 percent gain in cognitive performance.
Previous studies have shown that 20 minutes of exercise confers brain benefits, but this study shows that even people with physical and mental limitations can benefit from minor exercise.
The implications are important for everyone. If you are taking a test or about to engage in any mental task, 10 minutes of exercise beforehand can give you an edge.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
