The document discusses how exercise impacts cognitive functioning and brain development. It provides background on studies that show aerobic exercise increases brain volume and improves cognition. The author's study examined students who performed acute aerobic exercise before a final exam and found those in the exercise group demonstrated greater growth from midterm to final exams. In interviews, most students felt exercise improves their academic performance by enhancing focus. The document summarizes evidence that physical activity benefits the brain and cognition.

1. Haley Young
Dr. Jennifer Buckley
Aurora University
15 April 2014

2.  Background biological info.
 Recent studies
 My study
 Quantitative and qualitative data
 Possible improvements and variables

3.  Exercise…
 Improves sleep patterns
 Lowers blood pressure
 Strengthens heart and lungs
 Prevents diseases

4.  demonstrates that exercise improves
cognitive functioning!
 Aerobic exercise is most beneficial.
 Our ancestors had to move in search of food
and for survival.
 Evolutionary standpoint: This is how the brain
became more advanced.

5. Evolutionary Standpoint of How Brain
Developed
Cortex
Medulla
Oblongota
Cerebellum
Hippocampus
and
Amygdala

6. Amygdala
Hippocampus
Cortex

7. Dendrite
What is This???
A Neuron
Dendrites
Axon

8.  Hormones and Neurotransmitters:
 ***Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
 Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1)
 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
 Serotonin
 Dopamine
 Gammaaminobutyric Acid (GABA)
 ***Glutamate

9.  Various hormones and neurotransmitters:
 Increase dendritic expansion
 Increase axons in cortical region of brain
 Increased blood flow allows for growth of new
neurons and capillaries= increased brain
volume= improved cognition

10. Brain Activity After Walking

11.  Study #1:
59 people (age 60-79) randomly assigned to
aerobic or anaerobic exercise groups
Duration: 1 hour, 3 times a week
Results: Aerobic group had increased brain
volume in cortical regions and frontal lobe

12.  Study #2:
After 1 week, rats that ran had better spatial
memory, an increase in BDNF, and better
remembered their was through a maze.

13.  259 3rd-5th graders participated in
Fitnessgram: The Progressive Aerobic
Cardiovascular Run (PACER), sit ups, sit and
reach, jumping jacks…
 Results: Students more fit who had lower BMI
due to performing aerobic activity had higher
academic achievement, esp. math & reading.

14.  Those who perform acute aerobic exercise
before they take their final exam will
demonstrate greater growth from their mid-
term to final exam.
 Independent variables: exercisers and non-
exercisers
 Dependent variable: grades/growth

15.  4 exercisers and 4 non-exercisers*
 Demographics sheet
 Exercise for 45 mins. 60-80% of target HR
 Have 30 mins. to take final
 Compare midterm and final %

16. Grading Scale
A+ 96-100
A 93-95
A- 90-92
B+ 86-89
B 83-85
B- 80-82
C+ 76-79
C 73-75
C- 70-72
D+ 66-69
D 63-65
D- 60-62
F <59
Group Type Age Gender hrs/wk ex. hrs/wk wgt. BMI Targ. HR Athlete Growth Mid. Growth Fin.
Exe. tread. 21 m 3 7to 10 27.33 119-159 no A- A
exe. tread. 22 m 5to 7 5to 7 26 119-198 no C C-
exe. bike 22 f 6to 10 6 23.96 118-158 yes,CC B+ B-
exe. bike 22 f 5 2 26.2 119-158 no A- B+
non sed. 21 f 4.5 2.5 23.5 119.4-159.2 yes, soc A- B
non sed, 21 m 3 3 25.5 119-159 yes,lacr. B- B
non sed. 23 f 2to 3 0 17.5 118.2-157.6 no C- D+

17.  Q1: In what ways do you feel there is a link
between your own exercise habits and the ability to
complete tasks, such as writing papers or various
homework activities?
 Q2: Do you feel that aerobic exercise impacts your
grades at all and benefits you mentally and not just
physically?

18.  A1: “highly linked, do much better when I
exercise the day I do homework activities”
 A2: “I think it benefits me mentally, but
doesn’t heavily effect my grades.”

19.  A1: “I feel very focused when I exercise
regularly. I also am more sure of myself and
feel like tackling more tasks.”
 A2: “Yes.”

20.  A1: “I think there is a strong link. If I workout
I feel more productive.”
 A2: “Yes, I think there is a strong impact on
grades.”

21.  A1: “I think I perform better academically
after exercising.”
 A2: “Yes, I am more focused if I exercise
regularly.”

22.  A1: “I feel more focused, like I get more
done.”
 A2: “Yes!”

23.  A1: “I feel better and more coherent following
exercise.”
 A2: “Yes.”

24.  A1: “Exercise does create focus that I
wouldn’t have without it.”
 A2: “No, it’s something I’ve always done.”

25.  1 student from each group demonstrated
growth:
 Exerciser #1: A- to A
 Non-Exerciser #2: B- to B
 Everyone felt that there was a link between
their exercising habits and ability to perform
academically.
 Everyone besides one exerciser felt that
exercise benefits them mentally.

26.  Sample size
 Amount of time may have had effect
 Gender specific
 Choose one type of workout equipment
 Workout history
 GPA- what kind of student are they?

27.  *Spark by John Ratey
 Brain Rules by John Medina

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29. Questions???