Annotated Bibliography
Title
Spark: The
revolutionary new
science of exercise
and the brain
Author
John J. Ratey &
Eric Hagerman
Purpose
The purpose of the book
is to investigate and
prove that exercise does
in fact create a
transformative effect on
the brain. The author
explains the science of
how exercise cues the
building blocks of
learning in the brain;
how it affects mood,
anxiety, and the
attention and how it
guards against stress and
reverses some of the
effects of aging in the
brain.
Findings/Conclusion
A revolutionary fitness program in
Naperville, Illinois school
transformed the student body of
19 thousand into the fittest in the
nation. They simply performed
different variations of physical
activity prior to the start of class.
Only 3% were overweight, versus
the national average of 30 percent.
In terms of international tests, the
schools in this location are placed
first amongst the rest. Another
similar test shows that exercise
helps improve literacy. To simply
put it, schedule your hardest
subject after your gym period, to
capitalize on the beneficial effects
of exercise. Another experiment
shows that including an aerobic
exercise that involves skill
execution (complex movements)
expand and strengthen networks
in our brain. As well, it improves
processing speed and cognitive
flexibility (creative thoughts).
Recommendation: perform
exercise during lunch hour. Studies
over a certain period show that
people who do not exercise were
1.5 times more likely to have
depression. Overall, the findings
indicate that exercise is simply the
best treatments we have for most
psychiatric problems. In
conclusion, a simple targeted
Big Ideas
- We need to engage
our endurance
metabolism to keep our
bodies and brains in
optimum condition.
Some form of aerobic
activity six days a week,
for 45 minutes. 4 of
those days should be on
the longer side, at
moderate intensity, and
two on the shorter side,
high intensity.
- Aerobic activity has a
dramatic effect on
adaptation, regulating
systems that might be
out of balance and
optimizing those that
are not. It is an
indispensable tool for
anyone who wants to
reach his or her full
potential. The key is to
attack the business of
starting as a challenge
in itself.
Quote(s)
“The philosophy is that
if physical education
class can be used to
instruct kids how to
monitor and maintain
their own health and
fitness, then the
lessons they learn will
serve them for life”
“Exercise improves
mindset to improve
alertness, attentions,
and motivation;
encourages nerve cells
to bind to one another
(basis for logging new
information; spurs
development of new
nerve cells from stem
cells in the
hippocampus”
“To keep our brains at
peak performance, our
bodies need to work
hard”- John Ratey
Walk or jog everyday,
run a couple of times a
week, and then go for
the kill every now and
then by sprinting.
Be smart, exercise
your heart:
Exercise effects on
brain and
cognition.
Charles H.
Hillman, Kirk I.
Erickson and
Arthur F.
Kramer
The articles purpose is to
examines the positive
effects of aerobic
physical activity on
cognition and brain
function, at the
molecular, cellular,
systems and behavioural
levels. The research with
humans is mostly focused
on the effects of exercise
on cognitive processes,
as assessed with paperand-pencil and
computer-based tests.
Exercise and
Cognitive Function:
Time Course of the
Effects
Simon Cooper,
Stephan
Bandelow,
Maria Nute,
John Morris,
Mary Nevill
The purpose of this
article was to perform a
study that was to was to
assess the time course
(10 and 60min postexercise) of the effects of
15min intermittent
exercise (in cycles of 1
min exercise, 30s rest). A
battery of computer
based cognitive function
tests (Stroop test,
regimen to get your body moving
and your mind in peak condition
will change your approach in life.
- Human research strongly
supports the positive effects of
exercise on cognition: aerobic
activity improves learning and task
acquisition, increases secretion of
key neurochemicals associated
with synaptic plasticity and
promotes neuronal architecture
development.
- Studies have indicated that an
increase in the amount of time
dedicated towards physical healthbased activities (such as physical
education) is not accompanied by
a decline in academic
performance.
- In conclusion, there is converging
evidence at the molecular, cellular,
behavioural and systems levels
that physical activity participation
is beneficial to cognition.
- Findings of the present study
suggest that the relationship
between exercise-cognition in
children is mediated by both the
time of cognitive testing relative to
exercise and the component of
cognitive function examined.
- Specifically, adolescent’s
performance levels were slower
but more accurately on the Stroop
test (assessing attention) 10min
post-exercise, as well slower 10min
- Exercise has an effect
on the hippocampus as
this is were memories
are formed, which is
vital for learning. For
learning to occur, the
prefrontal cortex
delivers direction. It
must be aware of the
incoming stimulus,
analyze the
information, sequence it
(associate it with past
experience), and relate
this back to the
hippocampus.
- It must work with the
cerebellum and the
basal ganglia (keeps
functions on track by
maintaining rhythm for
the back-and-forth of
information).
The suggested
mechanisms by which
exercise may positively
influence cognitive
function include
increases in arousal,
heart rate and brain
derived neurotrophic
factor (BDNF). Findings
suggest that the effect
of the midmorning bout
of exercise were
“Research has shown
that physical exercise
and elevated heart
rate do have a positive
physiological impact
on brain functioning
and brain
development”.
“More than just feeling
good, it is about
building on the science
of how regular and
rigorous exercise
impacts body
chemistry, brain
development, and
learning”
“Both the timing of
cognitive testing
relative to exercise and
the specific
components of
cognitive function
examined must be
considered in future
studies examining the
relationship between
an acute bout of
exercise and cognitive
The Early Bird Gets
the Worm: How
Early
Morning Exercise
Creates Inspired
Learners and
Educators.
Heather
DeLaurentis &
David Howes
A 30-Minute
Physical Education
Program Improves
Students Executive
Attention
Sabine
Kubesch,
Laura Walk,
Manfred
Spitzer, Thomas
Kammer,
Alyona
Lainburg,
Rudiger Heim,
Katrin Hille
Sternberg paradigm and
visual search test) were
completed 30 min preand 10 and 60min postexercise (to assess
attention, working
memory and perception
respectively)
The purpose of the article
is to address the
proposition that schools
look towards morning
movement and exercise
programs to stimulate
increased brain activity
and energize children to
be ready and able to
focus on their academics
throughout the day.
post-exercise on the visual search
test (assessing perception).
However, there was little to no
effect of the mid-morning bout of
exercise with regards to
performance on the Sternberg
paradigm (assessing working
memory).
Start an early morning fitness
program called “Early Birds” that
would be open to all students
three days a week. The students
showed considerable progress in
their fitness levels. There are 42
students, 2 parents, and 6 staff
members involved now compared
to 9 students when it first started.
In addition to improving fitness
levels, students were also
demonstrating improved
motivation and focus in the
classroom. In conclusion, schools in
the 21st century cannot continue
to operate on the old paradigm of
learning between the hours of 8
a.m. and 3 p.m.
The purpose of this
article is to examine
whether executive
functions that are closely
related to learning
achievement can be
improved by acute and
recurring physical
activity. The article
examines the effects of a
single 30-min physical
Findings suggest that a single PE
program of 30 min leads to an
improvement in on-task attention
in the face of distraction. In
contrast, improved ability to
inhibit attention to distraction was
not achieved by a 5-min MB (i.e.
running on the spot).
Therefore, the duration of the
sports program seems to be
transient and that
60min post-exercise,
there was no difference
in cognitive function
between the exercise
and resting trials.
function in young
people”
Mission was to
determine if purposeful,
vigorous exercise before
school might have an
impact on the focus and
achievement of our
students during the
school day. By offering
more meaningful
activities like a fitness
club before school and
helping students to see
the relationship
between physical
fitness and their
academic success, we
are noticing a
significant reduction in
the achievement gap.
Cognitive flexibility
supports the taking up
of different
perspectives
respectively to
switch between
different perspectives,
and therefore to think
and react in a flexible
way. The call for more
PE is stressed because
“Who would want to
sit all day long,
between four walls,
and not be encouraged
or allowed to be active
and move around?”
“We can significantly
help our kids’ health,
self-esteem, and
academic achievement
by providing regular,
rigorous exercise
programs that are
mandated as part of
every school day”.
“The ability to inhibit
certain behavior and
attention in the face
of distraction prevents
activities which are in
conflict with a
certain goal or the
current situation”.
“Our study results
provide arguments for
an increase in PE
education program in
contrast to a 5-min
movement break
on working memory,
cognitive flexibility, and
inhibition of attention
and behavioral
tendencies of eighty-one
13- to 14- year-old
students in grade 7 in
Germany.
crucial for improvement in
inhibitory attention processes to
happen. In conclusion, PE seems to
be an effective way to improve
students’ executive attention
processes and therefore has the
potential to support academic
achievement across the subject
areas and grades.
higher physical fitness
could not be achieved
with short movement
breaks (MB).
and suggest that PE
should be scheduled
before important
subjects like
mathematics”.