Contribution of Physical Activity to Cognitive Function

ICSSPE recently organised and hosted an international symposium called “Move and Improve? - Physical Activity and Academic Performance”, which took place between 25^th and 27^th September in Berlin.  The event brought together a selection of world-class experts from science, education, business and politics to discuss the interface between neuroscience, physical activity and education. 

Speakers from five countries, and participants from many more, discussed the ‘state of the science’ of exercise neuroscience, and the ways in which it can inform the design programmes and the content of policies. In typical ICSSPE fashion, a large part of the symposium also considered opportunities for collaboration and co-operation across scientific disciplines and geographical regions.

Discussion covered a wide-range of themes, and the expectation is to progress towards a new volume in the ICSSPE Perspective series, published by Routledge. There was also a sense of consensus regarding the positive contribution that regular physical activity can make to cognitive function (such as the fast and efficient working of the brain) and general educational achievement (such as improved grades and examination results). Overall, there was a shared agreement that this exciting area of research into activity and the brain offered further support for the call for greater opportunities for sports and other forms of physical activities, both in school and at home.