Short Bouts Of Resistance Training Have A Big Impact On Memory

A U.S. clinical study has found that even brief – 20 minutes –  resistance training sessions have a positive impact on long-term (episodic) memory. Researchers focused on weight training, but said other resistance workouts like squats or knee bends would have the same result. For the study, participants looked at positive, negative and neutral photos, then were asked to exercise actively on a leg resistance machine, or passively (researcher moving the machine). Participants who exercised actively showed the highest physiological responses to the photographs, indicating improved memory. Memory improvement was measured at ten percent.