
Exercise and Short-Term Memory
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Does physical activity right before a test help you remember more? You divide participants into two groups. Both groups study 20 household objects on a table for 45 seconds. Then they write down what they recall.
One group plays dodgeball for 20 minutes. The other reads quietly. Both groups then repeat the memory test with new objects. You compare the scores to see which activity helped.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that students will have better memory performance after they perform various types of exercise.
Science Concepts Learned
Exercise and Cognition
Physical activity can affect thinking and brain power in the short term, not just over long periods. Both groups start by studying 20 household objects on a table for 45 seconds, then writing down what they recall. One group plays dodgeball for 20 minutes. The other reads quietly. When both repeat the memory test with new objects, the scores reveal how exercise shapes recall.
Method & Materials
You will divide the participants into two teams: Exercise and Board Game. Then, you will have them memorize a set of items, do their respective activities, and then memorize a second set of items.
You will need 40 small household objects, paper, a tablecloth, storybooks, a timer, a table, and 3 dodgeballs.
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See what’s includedResults
The results of this experiment showed that the participants who exercised had better memory performance than those who read books. One observation that stood out was that the participants who exercised remembered more items than those who read books.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows that physical activity can help improve memory performance, even if you are not an athlete.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include testing different types of exercise, such as running or jumping jacks, or testing different types of activities, such as playing a board game or solving puzzles.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related video
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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