If you're going to be lazy and just do rote learning, at least get some exercise to enhance it. ;p
Exercising during learning improves vocabulary acquisition: Behavioral and ERP evidence
Abstract: Numerous studies have provided evidence that physical activity promotes cortical plasticity in the adult brain and in turn facilitates learning. However, until now, the effect of simultaneous physical activity (e.g. bicycling) on learning performance has not been investigated systematically. The current study aims at clarifying whether simultaneous motor activity influences verbal learning compared to learning in a physically passive situation. Therefore the learning behavior of 12 healthy subjects (4 male, 19–33 years) was monitored over a period of 3 weeks. During that time, behavioral and electrophysiological responses to memorized materials were measured. We found a larger N400 effect and better performance in vocabulary tests when subjects were physically active during the encoding phase. Thus, our data indicate that simultaneous physical activity during vocabulary learning facilitates memorization of new items.
Here's a couple bits from the methodology and discussion: “Within the 3 weeks, participants were asked to learn 80 French words (40 nouns and 40 verbs). Participants underwent 3 individual trainings sessions per week resulting in 9 learning sessions in total. Each learning session lasted 30 min during which participants listened to the 80 words twice. Thus, all 80 vocabulary pairs were presented in French–German order before they were presented again in German–French order. Within the French–German and the German–French block the order of vocabulary pairs was randomized for each learning session. Within the 3 weeks of training participants listened each item 18 times in total...
In the Spinning group participants were instructed to cycle in synchrony to vocabulary presentation. This was possible when subjects cycled at a speed of 60 rounds per minute (RPM), a pace that is usually recommended to beginners in fitness centres... Participants were instructed to exercise at a medium exertion level, i.e., they should breathe a little faster and feel a little warmer...
... Members of the Spinning group showed significantly better performance in the vocabulary tests at each testing day. Furthermore they showed a larger N400 effect as compared to those participants who learned vocabulary in the physically passive condition.
The current results are very promising given the fact that a positive influence of simultaneous physical activity on learning has never been demonstrated before. Although previous studies provided evidence for a beneficial effect of high-intensity physical activity on the subsequent learning outcome, it has never been systematically investigated whether simultaneous physical activity further pushes or hinders mnemonic functions. Here, we provide first evidence that simultaneous physical activity positively influences the memorization of new vocabulary, a result that goes hand in hand with plasticity changes as evidenced in an enhanced N400 amplitude compared to the control group.”
Related: High impact running improves vocabulary learning
Abstract: Regular physical exercise improves cognitive functions and lowers the risk for age-related cognitive decline. Since little is known about the nature and the timing of the underlying mechanisms, we probed whether exercise also has immediate beneficial effects on cognition. Learning performance was assessed directly after high impact anaerobic sprints, low impact aerobic running, or a period of rest in 27 healthy subjects in a randomized cross-over design. Dependent variables comprised learning speed as well as immediate (1 week) and long-term (>8 months) overall success in acquiring a novel vocabulary. Peripheral levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were assessed prior to and after the interventions as well as after learning. We found that vocabulary learning was 20 percent faster after intense physical exercise as compared to the other two conditions. This condition also elicited the strongest increases in BDNF and catecholamine levels. More sustained BDNF levels during learning after intense exercise were related to better short-term learning success, whereas absolute dopamine and epinephrine levels were related to better intermediate (dopamine) and long-term (epinephrine) retentions of the novel vocabulary. Thus, BDNF and two of the catecholamines seem to be mediators by which physical exercise improves learning.
Some bits from the methodology and discussion: “Using a cross-over design, every subject took part in three conditions on different days, spaced at least 1 week apart (see Fig. 1). The conditions differed with regard to the intensity of physical activity. The condition “relaxed” served as a control and consisted of 15 min being sedentary. The condition “moderate” consisted of 40 min of low impact running at a fixed individual heart rate. The individual target heart rate was based on the results of the initial physical fitness test and ensured that lactate levels remained below 2 mmol/l (aerobic condition). In the condition “intense”, subjects performed two sprints of 3 min each, separated by a 2 min break. Each sprint started at 8 km/h, increased every 10 s by 2 km/h, until exhaustion. This was an anaerobic condition with lactate levels greater than 10 mmol/l...
The main finding of the present study was that intense exercise directly improves learning: After two sprints of less than 3 min each, subjects learned 20 percent faster compared to moderate exercise or being sedentary. To our knowledge, this is the first study of immediate exercise-induced effects on a complex learning task with a parallel analysis of neurophysiological correlates (changes in peripheral catecholamine or BDNF levels) in humans.”
Exercising during learning improves vocabulary acquisition: Behavioral and ERP evidence
Abstract: Numerous studies have provided evidence that physical activity promotes cortical plasticity in the adult brain and in turn facilitates learning. However, until now, the effect of simultaneous physical activity (e.g. bicycling) on learning performance has not been investigated systematically. The current study aims at clarifying whether simultaneous motor activity influences verbal learning compared to learning in a physically passive situation. Therefore the learning behavior of 12 healthy subjects (4 male, 19–33 years) was monitored over a period of 3 weeks. During that time, behavioral and electrophysiological responses to memorized materials were measured. We found a larger N400 effect and better performance in vocabulary tests when subjects were physically active during the encoding phase. Thus, our data indicate that simultaneous physical activity during vocabulary learning facilitates memorization of new items.
Here's a couple bits from the methodology and discussion: “Within the 3 weeks, participants were asked to learn 80 French words (40 nouns and 40 verbs). Participants underwent 3 individual trainings sessions per week resulting in 9 learning sessions in total. Each learning session lasted 30 min during which participants listened to the 80 words twice. Thus, all 80 vocabulary pairs were presented in French–German order before they were presented again in German–French order. Within the French–German and the German–French block the order of vocabulary pairs was randomized for each learning session. Within the 3 weeks of training participants listened each item 18 times in total...
In the Spinning group participants were instructed to cycle in synchrony to vocabulary presentation. This was possible when subjects cycled at a speed of 60 rounds per minute (RPM), a pace that is usually recommended to beginners in fitness centres... Participants were instructed to exercise at a medium exertion level, i.e., they should breathe a little faster and feel a little warmer...
... Members of the Spinning group showed significantly better performance in the vocabulary tests at each testing day. Furthermore they showed a larger N400 effect as compared to those participants who learned vocabulary in the physically passive condition.
The current results are very promising given the fact that a positive influence of simultaneous physical activity on learning has never been demonstrated before. Although previous studies provided evidence for a beneficial effect of high-intensity physical activity on the subsequent learning outcome, it has never been systematically investigated whether simultaneous physical activity further pushes or hinders mnemonic functions. Here, we provide first evidence that simultaneous physical activity positively influences the memorization of new vocabulary, a result that goes hand in hand with plasticity changes as evidenced in an enhanced N400 amplitude compared to the control group.”
Related: High impact running improves vocabulary learning
Abstract: Regular physical exercise improves cognitive functions and lowers the risk for age-related cognitive decline. Since little is known about the nature and the timing of the underlying mechanisms, we probed whether exercise also has immediate beneficial effects on cognition. Learning performance was assessed directly after high impact anaerobic sprints, low impact aerobic running, or a period of rest in 27 healthy subjects in a randomized cross-over design. Dependent variables comprised learning speed as well as immediate (1 week) and long-term (>8 months) overall success in acquiring a novel vocabulary. Peripheral levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were assessed prior to and after the interventions as well as after learning. We found that vocabulary learning was 20 percent faster after intense physical exercise as compared to the other two conditions. This condition also elicited the strongest increases in BDNF and catecholamine levels. More sustained BDNF levels during learning after intense exercise were related to better short-term learning success, whereas absolute dopamine and epinephrine levels were related to better intermediate (dopamine) and long-term (epinephrine) retentions of the novel vocabulary. Thus, BDNF and two of the catecholamines seem to be mediators by which physical exercise improves learning.
Some bits from the methodology and discussion: “Using a cross-over design, every subject took part in three conditions on different days, spaced at least 1 week apart (see Fig. 1). The conditions differed with regard to the intensity of physical activity. The condition “relaxed” served as a control and consisted of 15 min being sedentary. The condition “moderate” consisted of 40 min of low impact running at a fixed individual heart rate. The individual target heart rate was based on the results of the initial physical fitness test and ensured that lactate levels remained below 2 mmol/l (aerobic condition). In the condition “intense”, subjects performed two sprints of 3 min each, separated by a 2 min break. Each sprint started at 8 km/h, increased every 10 s by 2 km/h, until exhaustion. This was an anaerobic condition with lactate levels greater than 10 mmol/l...
The main finding of the present study was that intense exercise directly improves learning: After two sprints of less than 3 min each, subjects learned 20 percent faster compared to moderate exercise or being sedentary. To our knowledge, this is the first study of immediate exercise-induced effects on a complex learning task with a parallel analysis of neurophysiological correlates (changes in peripheral catecholamine or BDNF levels) in humans.”
Edited: 2011-06-13, 11:49 am
