The Benefits of Exercise on Academic Performance
Impacts of Exercise on Academic Performance
1. Impact on Brain
Increased neurotransmitter activity improves alertness, concentration and motivation
Exercise elevates levels of BDNF, which stimulates neuron growth, and encourage synapses to swell and make stronger connections
BDNF causes brain cells to grow, connect and communicate
Exercise produces new capillaries to increase cerebral blood flow
Exercise increases size of myelin sheaths
Activity increases stem cell activity in the hippocampus, which improves memory
Exercise increases density of neural network
Cellular impact of exercise on the brain is greater in children than adults
2. Impact of Improved Fitness
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, both post exercise and at rest
Higher fitness levels correlate with higher scores on standardized tests
Increased fitness improves academic test performance by 20%
Active children are 20% more likely to achieve A grades in Maths and English
Increased fitness reduces disciplinary problems by 60%
Fitness increases volume of hippocampus and basal ganglia, which are structures associated with learning
Children who exercise regularly are likely to do the same as adults
3. Impact on Stress and Anxiety
Exercise impacts on HPA axis to control production of cortisol
(Cortisol severs synaptic connections, causes dendrite atrophy and kills neurons, leading to hippocampus shrinkage by up to 15%)
Increase in serotonin and dopamine improve mood, impulse control, and self esteem
Increased neurotransmitter activity tempers impact of ADHD
Improved Emotional Intelligence and impulse control
4. Impact on Learning
Improvements in:
Information processing, storage and retrieval
Attention levels
Concentration
Creativity
Memory
Confidence and self esteem
Emotional and behavioural wellbeing
Sense of belonging and significance
Perception of Mastery
Relationships and Social Connectedness
5. Time Allocated to Physical Activity
Decreasing academic time and replacing it with physical activity has positive or neutral effect on academic performance
225 minutes/week of exercise is recommended to achieve maximum impact
60 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous physical activity
Greatest impact is from aerobic activity
Please see the diagram attached.