The effects of acute exercise on memory: considerations for exercise duration and participant body mass index

Patrick, Z., Jung, M., McMorris, T. and Loprinzi, P. D. (2025) The effects of acute exercise on memory: considerations for exercise duration and participant body mass index. Psychological Research, 89 (3). pp. 1-12. ISSN 0340-0727

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Abstract

Acute moderate-intensity exercise has been demonstrated to improve memory performance. It is less clear, however, whether the duration of acute exercise and body mass index (BMI) may moderate this effect. Thus, the purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of differing exercise durations (20- and 40-minutes) on immediate and long-term memory performance, while considering BMI as a moderating factor in this exercise duration and memory performance relationship. Twenty-three young healthy adults participated in a within-subjects experiment. Participants completed four different experimental visits including either exercising at a moderate intensity (or standing on a treadmill) for 20- or 40-minutes, followed by an immediate free-recall memory assessment and then a delayed 24-hr recall. Acute moderate-intensity exercise improved memory performance, regardless of the duration of exercise. Further, long-term memory performance was greater for individuals with a higher BMI when they engaged in shorter (20 min) exercise compared to longer (40 min) exercise.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: humans, body mass index, exercise, memory, short-term, mental recall, time factors, adult, female, male, young adult, long-term
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV201 Physical education and training
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports
Q Science > QP Physiology
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport
Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER)
Related URLs:
SWORD Depositor: Publications Router Jisc
Depositing User: Publications Router Jisc
Date Deposited: 07 May 2025 08:52
Last Modified: 07 May 2025 08:52
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/8085

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