We all know exercising is the best way to keep yourself healthy and happy. Scientists have found that six weeks of intense exercise short bouts of interval training over the course of 20 minutes showed significant improvements in what is known as high-interference memory, which, for example, allows us to distinguish our car from another of the same make and model.
They also found that participants who experienced greater fitness gains also experienced greater increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth, function and survival of brain cells.
For the study, 95 participants completed six weeks of exercise training, combined exercise and cognitive training or no training (the control group which did neither and remained sedentary). Both the exercise and combined training groups improved performance on a high-interference memory task, while the control group did not.