The Impact of Physical Activity on Academic Performance of Adolescents From a Neurocognitive Perspective: A Systematic Review

Learning is one of the most critical developmental tasks during adolescence. Drawing on evidence from neurocognitive science, this study examines the effects of physical activity on academic performance. The review found that physical activity improves healthy fitness, executive function, and learning behaviors in adolescents, which in turn improves academic performance. In terms of mechanisms, physical activity promotes microadaptive changes in neurofactors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor and their receptors, and macroregulates the volume of brain structures such as white and gray matter, as well as brain activation patterns. Therefore, physical education should incorporate the cross-cutting benefits of cognitive neuroscience to promote the physical health and brain development of adolescents, so that “home, school, and society” can re-conceptualize the multifaceted value of physical education for the overall development of students.