Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Processes: A Review

Exercise has been purported to produce changes in cognitive functioning; the published research on this issue is reviewed. Studies were classified according to the intensity and duration of the exercise intervention, and the results of the studies were evaluated on the basis of current theories of information processing. Although several studies provided data that suggest that exercise produces short-term facilitative effects on mental tasks, the relation remains problematic. Inconsistencies among studies are believed to be due to the failure of researchers to use a theory-based parametric approach to the issue. Suggestions for future research are offered.