Physical activity is linked with favorable working memory trajectories in young adults

Young adulthood is often considered a period of peak cognitive performance. Yet members of the HEADS lab have found that lifestyle factors may still play an important role in shaping cognitive function during this stage of life. 

In a newly published longitudinal study, the research team investigated whether vigorous physical activity nd cardiorespiratory fitness predict working memory outcomes over a one-year period. Working memory is a key cognitive function that allows us to temporarily store and manipulate information and is essential for learning, decision-making, and everyday problem-solving.

A total of 115 healthy young adults completed cognitive testing and electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings at baseline and again one year later. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometers, while cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated through cycle ergometer testing.

The results showed that participants who engaged in higher levels of vigorous physical activity at baseline demonstrated better working memory capacity one year later. In contrast, cardiorespiratory fitness was not associated with follow-up working memory performance. The researchers also observed that vigorous physical activity was linked to changes in brain activity related to working memory maintenance, with exploratory analyses suggesting different patterns in male and female participants.

The findings suggest that vigorous physical activity may help support favorable cognitive development even during young adulthood, a period typically characterized by relatively high cognitive functioning. 
The full paper can be accessed here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755296626000487