Sport and memory go hand in hand

Date:
September 23, 2020
Source:
Universite' de Gene`ve
Summary:
If sport is good for the body, it also seems to be good for the
brain. By evaluating memory performance following a sport session,
neuroscientists demonstrate that an intensive physical exercise
session improves memory.

How? Through the action of endocanabinoids, molecules known
to increase synaptic plasticity. School programs and strategies
aimed at reducing the effects of neurodegeneration on memory could
benefit from the study.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
If sport is good for the body, it also seems to be good for the
brain. By evaluating memory performance following a sport session, neuroscientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) demonstrate
that an intensive physical exercise session as short as 15 minutes
on a bicycle improves memory, including the acquisition of new motor
skills. How? Through the action of endocanabinoids, molecules known to
increase synaptic plasticity. This study, to be read in the journal
Scientific Reports, highlights the virtues of sport for both health
and education. School programmes and strategies aimed at reducing the
effects of neurodegeneration on memory could indeed benefit from it.


==========================================================================
Very often, right after a sporting exercise -- especially endurance
such as running or cycling -- one feels physical and psychological
well-being. This feeling is due to endocannabinoids, small molecules
produced by the body during physical exertion. "They circulate in the
blood and easily cross the blood- brain barrier. They then bind to
specialise cellular receptors and trigger this feeling of euphoria. In addition, these same molecules bind to receptors in the hippocampus, the
main brain structure for memory processing," says Kinga Igloi, lecturer
in the laboratory of Professor Sophie Schwartz, at UNIGE Faculty of
Medicine's Department of Basic Neurosciences, who led this work. "But
what is the link between sport and memory? This is what we wanted to understand," she continues.

Intense effort is more effective To test the effect of sport on motor
learning, scientists asked a group of 15 young and healthy men, who were
not athletes, to take a memory test under three conditions of physical exercise: after 30 minutes of moderate cycling, after 15 minutes of
intensive cycling (defined as 80% of their maximum heart rate), or after
a period of rest. "The exercise was as follows: a screen showed four
points placed next to each other. Each time one of the dots briefly
changed into a star, the participant had to press the corresponding
button as quickly as possible," explains Blanca Marin Bosch, researcher
in the same laboratory.

"It followed a predefined and repeated sequence in order to precisely
evaluate how movements were learnt. This is very similar to what we
do when, for example, we learn to type on a keyboard as quickly as
possible. After an intensive sports session, the performance was much
better." In addition to the results of the memory tests, the scientists observed changes in the activation of brain structures with functional
MRI and performed blood tests to measure endocannabinoid levels. The
different analyses concur: the faster individuals are, the more they
activate their hippocampus (the brain area of memory) and the caudate
nucleus (a brain structure involved in motor processes). Moreover,
their endocannabinoid levels follow the same curve: the higher the level
after intense physical effort, the more the brain is activated and the
better the brain's performance. "These molecules are involved in synaptic plasticity, i.e. the way in which neurons are connected to each other,
and thus may act on long-term potentiation, the mechanism for optimal consolidation of memory," says Blanca Marin Bosch.

Improving school learning or preventing Alzheimer's disease In a previous study, the research team had already shown the positive effect of sport
on another type of memory, associative memory. However, contrary to
what is shown here, they had observed that a sport session of moderate intensity produced better results. It therefore shows that, as not all
forms of memory use the same brain mechanisms, not all sports intensities
have the same effects. It should be noted that in all cases, physical
exercise improves memory more than inaction.

By providing precise neuroscientific data, these studies make it possible
to envisage new strategies for improving or preserving memory. "Sports
activity can be an easy to implement, minimally invasive and inexpensive intervention.

For example, would it be useful to schedule a sports activity at the
end of a school morning to consolidate memory and improve learning?"
Improving academic learning or preventing Alzheimer's disease In a
previous study, the research team had already shown the positive effect
of sport on another type of memory, associative memory. But, contrary to
what is shown here, they had observed that a sport session of moderate intensity, not high intensity, produced better results. Thus, just as
not all forms of memory use the same brain mechanisms, not all sports intensities have the same effects. It should be noted that in all cases, physical exercise improves memory more than inaction.

By providing precise neuroscientific data, these studies make it possible
to envisage new strategies for improving or preserving memory. "Sports
activity can be an easy to implement, minimally invasive and inexpensive intervention.

Would it be useful, for example, to plan a moment of sport at the end of
a school morning to consolidate school learning," Kinga Igloi wonders,
who, with her colleagues at Sophie Schwartz's laboratory, aims to achieve
such practical objectives.

Neuroscientists are currently pursuing their work by studying memory
disorders, and in particular by studying populations at high risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease. "Some people as young as 25 years of age
may experience subtle memory deficits characterised by overactivation of
the hippocampus. We want to evaluate the extent to which sports practice
could help compensate for these early deficits that are precursors to Alzheimer's disease.," conclude the authors.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Universite'_de_Gene`ve. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Blanca Marin Bosch, Aure'lien Bringard, Maria Grazia Logrieco,
Estelle
Lauer, Nathalie Imobersteg, Aure'lien Thomas, Guido Ferretti,
Sophie Schwartz, Kinga Igloi. Effect of acute physical exercise
on motor sequence memory. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10 (1) DOI:
10.1038/s41598- 020-72108-1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200923124616.htm

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