Effects of Acute Exercise Intensity on Memory: Considerations of Timing and Aerobic Endurance

The primary objective of this study was to find the optimal acute exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery time to enhance memory retention. A secondary objective of study was to evaluate the influence of aerobic endurance on memory and whether endurance capacity interacts with exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period to influence memory performance. Participants were 54 undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Mississippi, with an age range of 18-23 years. Participants completed 13 visits in total. The first visit evaluated their aerobic endurance, with the remaining 12 visits including a 3 (Intensity: Control, Moderate, Vigorous) by 4 (Post-Exercise Recovery Periods: 1-min Post, 5-min Post, 10-min Post, 15-min) repeated measures design to evaluate the effects of exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period on long-term memory function. Following exercise, participants completed a memory task, which involved encoding a list of 15 words, for 5 consecutive trials. Following a delay, participants performed a free-recall of the words 20 minutes post and 24-hours after the lab visit. Results of this study showed that aerobic endurance is positively associated with long-term memory function. Additionally, high-intensity acute exercise is optimal to enhance memory performance, an effect that may also be influenced by the post-exercise recovery period and fitness level of the individual