Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Cognitive Science

“Weekend warrior” strategy shows persistent cognitive benefits

by Eric W. Dolan
December 24, 2024
in Cognitive Science
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Follow PsyPost on Google News

A recent study published in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory has revealed that intermittent exercise, akin to the “weekend warrior” pattern, offers lasting cognitive benefits compared to continuous exercise. The research, conducted with mice, found that short bursts of exercise sustained over weeks maintain memory-enhancing effects even after a sedentary delay. These findings shed light on how exercise impacts brain function, offering potential strategies to preserve cognitive abilities over time.

Previous studies have established that physical exercise improves cognition, aiding memory, attention, and learning. However, many of these studies focused on continuous, daily exercise routines, which are often impractical for most people. The “weekend warrior” approach—a pattern of condensed physical activity concentrated into a few days each week—has been linked to cardiovascular benefits in humans.

Yet, its cognitive implications remained unexplored. The researchers aimed to determine whether intermittent exercise could provide comparable or superior benefits to continuous exercise in enhancing memory and brain function.

The study also sought to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. In particular, the researchers focused on genes like Acvr1c and Bdnf, which are important for hippocampus-dependent long-term memory formation. By studying mice, the team aimed to uncover how exercise schedules influence both behavioral and molecular outcomes.

To explore the effects of intermittent exercise, the researchers used 48 male mice, all 12 weeks old, housed in either exercise or sedentary cages. The exercise cages included running wheels to allow voluntary physical activity. The mice were divided into three groups based on their exercise regimen:

  1. Continuous exercise: 14 consecutive days of running.
  2. Intermittent exercise: Two days of running per week over seven weeks (14 days total).
  3. Control group: Only two days of running, followed by a sedentary period.

Half of the mice in each group experienced a seven-day sedentary delay after completing their exercise regimen, while the other half did not. To assess memory, the researchers used a subthreshold Object Location Memory (OLM) task. This test involved placing two identical objects in a chamber and later moving one object to a new location. The mice’s exploration time of the novel location was measured to calculate a discrimination index, which reflects memory performance.

Additionally, the researchers analyzed brain tissue using quantitative PCR to measure levels of Acvr1c and Bdnf in the hippocampus. These genes are known to play key roles in long-term memory and learning.

The findings revealed that both continuous and intermittent exercise enhanced memory compared to the control group. However, the benefits of intermittent exercise proved more enduring. After a seven-day sedentary delay, mice in the intermittent exercise group maintained high memory performance, whereas the cognitive benefits for the continuous exercise group diminished.

Molecular analyses provided further insights. The levels of Acvr1c and Bdnf were persistently elevated in the hippocampi of mice in the intermittent exercise group, even after a week of inactivity. In contrast, these levels dropped in the continuous exercise group after the same delay. Notably, the elevated expression of these genes correlated with better memory performance, suggesting their role in sustaining cognitive benefits.

Interestingly, the amount of running—measured as average daily distance—did not significantly influence memory outcomes. This suggests that the exercise regimen, rather than its intensity, was the critical factor in producing long-lasting cognitive effects.

While the study provides compelling evidence for the cognitive benefits of intermittent exercise, it also has some limitations. First, the research was conducted exclusively on male mice, leaving questions about whether the findings apply equally to females. Past studies have indicated similar cognitive benefits of exercise in female mice, but this specific intermittent regimen warrants further investigation.

Additionally, the study did not explore the exact duration of the cognitive benefits or whether they are cyclical during the sedentary period. Future research could examine how long these benefits persist and whether reintroducing exercise at different intervals amplifies or diminishes the effects. The underlying molecular mechanisms also remain partly unclear, particularly regarding how intermittent exercise primes genes like Acvr1c and Bdnf for prolonged activation.

“Here, we demonstrate persistent cognitive benefits following engagement in intermittent ‘weekend warrior’ exercise. Additionally, we observe molecular correlates of persistence of cognitive function where genes that we know to be critically involved in hippocampus dependent long-term memory, remain up-regulated following a sedentary delay. The persistent exercise regime of the weekend warrior protocol may be more effectively priming specific genes and/or reactivating the molecular memory window more efficiently, thus allowing for longer-lasting cognitive benefits.”

“However, it is unknown whether the benefits are cyclical throughout the 7-day delay, or if the benefits are continuous, nor is the total period that the benefits persist known. Seeing as mRNA data were taken from hippocampal samples 1-hour post-test, future work should assess protein and mRNA levels of these genes of interest during consolidation. Future studies can also investigate the role of Acvr1c and Bdnf IV in the observed cognitive benefits and their associated mechanism. Understanding the optimal parameters for persistent cognitive function and the mechanisms mediating persistent effects will allow for the possible alleviation of cognitive decline or impairments and aid in therapeutic pursuits investigating the mitigation of cognitive ailments.”

The study, “The weekend warrior effect: Consistent intermittent exercise induces persistent cognitive benefits,” was authored by Scott La Tour, Hassan Shaikh, Joy H Beardwood, Agatha S. Augustynski, Marcelo A. Wood, and Ashley A. Keiser.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin3ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Scientists reveal ChatGPT’s left-wing bias — and how to “jailbreak” it
Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT and “cognitive debt”: New study suggests AI might be hurting your brain’s ability to think

July 1, 2025

Researchers at MIT investigated how writing with ChatGPT affects brain activity and recall. Their findings indicate that reliance on AI may lead to reduced mental engagement, prompting concerns about cognitive “offloading” and its implications for education.

Read moreDetails
New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation
Cognitive Science

Vagus nerve signals influence food intake more in higher socio-economic groups

July 1, 2025

Researchers have found that internal physiological cues—like signals from the vagus nerve—play a stronger role in guiding eating behavior among wealthier individuals, offering new insight into why socio-economic status is linked to differences in diet and health.

Read moreDetails
Researchers identify neural mechanism behind memory prioritization
Memory

Researchers identify neural mechanism behind memory prioritization

June 30, 2025

A new brain imaging study shows that when people try to remember multiple things, their brains give more precise attention to the most important item. The frontal cortex helps allocate memory resources, boosting accuracy for high-priority information.

Read moreDetails
Scientists show how you’re unknowingly sealing yourself in an information bubble
Cognitive Science

Scientists show how you’re unknowingly sealing yourself in an information bubble

June 29, 2025

Scientists have found that belief polarization doesn’t always come from misinformation or social media bubbles. Instead, it often begins with a simple search. Our choice of words—and the algorithm’s response—can subtly seal us inside our own informational comfort zones.

Read moreDetails
Muscle contractions release chemical signals that promote brain network development
Memory

Sleep helps stitch memories into cognitive maps, according to new neuroscience breakthrough

June 28, 2025

Scientists have discovered that forming a mental map of a new environment takes more than just recognizing individual places—it also requires sleep. The study highlights how weakly tuned neurons gradually become synchronized to encode space as a connected whole.

Read moreDetails
Reduced pineal gland volume observed in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Cognitive Science

Neuroscientists identify key gatekeeper of human consciousness

June 27, 2025

Using rare brain recordings from patients, scientists found that the thalamus helps trigger visual awareness. The study reveals that this deep brain region sends synchronized signals to the cortex, acting as a gateway for conscious perception.

Read moreDetails
Girls as young as 8 show cognitive sensitivity to their own body weight, new study finds
Body Image and Body Dysmorphia

Girls as young as 8 show cognitive sensitivity to their own body weight, new study finds

June 25, 2025

Girls as young as eight show a unique sensitivity to numbers representing their body weight, a new study finds. The results highlight early gender differences in attention and raise questions about how body awareness develops and affects girls’ perceptions later in life.

Read moreDetails
Schoolchildren in classrooms where trees can be seen are less prone to aggression, defiance, and rule-breaking
Cognitive Science

Critical thinking and academic achievement reinforce each other over time, study finds

June 24, 2025

A new study has found that critical thinking and academic achievement build on each other over time in elementary school students, highlighting the importance of integrating thinking skills into classroom learning to support long-term educational growth.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Could creatine slow cognitive decline? Mouse study reveals promising effects on brain aging

ChatGPT and “cognitive debt”: New study suggests AI might be hurting your brain’s ability to think

Frequent dreams and nightmares surged worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic

Vagus nerve signals influence food intake more in higher socio-economic groups

People who think “everyone agrees with me” are more likely to support populism

What is the most attractive body fat percentage for men? New research offers an answer

Longer antidepressant use linked to more severe, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms, study finds

New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy