The Effect Of Acute Physical Activity On Long-term Memory

PURPOSE: Acute physical activity (PA) facilitates long-term memory (LTM). The mechanisms by which the type and timing of PA in relation to memory encoding remain unclear. To evaluate the effects of two types of PA which differ in complexity on free-recall (FR), recognition, and object location memory (OLM). METHODS: A between-group design was employed with participants (n = 60, age 20.25 ∓ 1.73 yrs, 66 %F) randomized to one of three conditions: control (CMT), simple PA (SMT), and complex PA (QMT). Participants engaged in a 15-minute PA protocol or seated rest. The Digit Cancellation Task (DCAT) of attention was administered. After the DCAT, participant completed a visuospatial memory task in which FR, recognition, and OLM retention tests were administered immediately, 24-hours, and 7-days after PA or rest to assess LTM. The intensity of the PA was measured using Borg’s RPE scale and heart rate. RESULTS: The effects of PA on FR, recognition, and OLM were assessed via a 3(Group) X 3(Time) mixed-factorial ANOVA. Analyses of FR revealed a main effect for Group, F(2, 57) = 8.785, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.236, and Time, F(1.82, 57) = 6.645, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.104. The Group X Time interaction was non-significant, F(3.63, 103.43) = 1.642, ηp2 = 0.54. Analyses of recognition revealed a main effect for Time, F(1.68, 57) = 99.972, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.637, but no significant main effect for Group, F(2, 57) = 1.282, p = 0.285, ηp2 = 0.043. The Group X Time interaction was also non-significant for recognition memory, F(3.36, 95.68) = 0.256, p = 0.905, ηp2 = 0.009. Analyses of OLM revealed a main effect for Time, F(1.56, 57) = 139.090, p < 0.05, ηp2 = 0.709, but no significant main effect for Group, F(2, 57) = 2.588, p = 0.084, ηp2 = 0.083, nor Group X Time interaction, F(3.12, 114) = 0.690, p = 0.566, ηp2 = 0.024. RPE and HR measures did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Participants who completed a complex bout of PA demonstrated more durable FR memory, but not recognition nor OLM compared to simple PA and control. The differential impact of PA on LTM depended on the type of PA that was performed regarding its mental engagement. These results are in line with meta-analytical evidence that PA performed prior to encoding impacts FR memory more than other memory process. These findings may be elucidated by theory-based explanations regarding the storage and retrieval of memory. Life University