One-single physical exercise session after object recognition learning promotes memory persistence through hippocampal noradrenergic mechanisms

Randomized controlled trial evaluating the temporal effects of high‐intensity exercise on learning, short‐term and long‐term memory, and prospective memory

“…Regarding the general effects of exercise on memory, it is plausible that exercise before memory encoding and during memory consolidation may help to facilitate memory recall. This has been demonstrated in other studies (Labban & Etnier, ; van Dongen et al ., ; da Silva de Vargas et al ., ). With regard to the potential beneficial effects of exercise occurring prior to memory encoding, exercise‐induced enhanced attention may facilitate memory encoding via modulation of the dopamine neurotransmitter (Yoon et al ., ; Kim et al ., ) acting on D1/D5 receptors (Muzzio et al ., ).…”

“…That is, exercise occurring prior to memory encoding could enhance memory, as it may facilitate exercise‐induced attention and subsequent memory encoding (Labban & Etnier, ). Similarly, exercise after memory assessments may enhance memory consolidation (van Dongen et al ., ; da Silva de Vargas et al ., ). Additionally, emerging work is evaluating the transient hypofrontality hypothesis of limited neuro‐metabolic resources by evaluating the effects of exercise on cognition when exercise occurs during the cognitive task (Dietrich, ).…”

“…In addition to fewer studies among younger adults, another major gap in the literature is whether there are temporal effects of exercise on memory function. Individual studies (Labban & Etnier, ; Schmidt‐Kassow et al ., , ; McNerney & Radvansky, ; van Dongen et al ., ; da Silva de Vargas et al ., ) have examined whether exercise before, during or immediately after the memory stimulus influences subsequent memory recall, with these studies generally showing that both exercise before memory encoding and during memory consolidation may help to facilitate memory recall. However, only one study (Labban & Etnier, ), to our knowledge, has evaluated multiple temporal periods in a single study.…”

Potential avenues for exercise to activate episodic memory‐related pathways: a narrative review

“…Emerging research has shown that not only does exercise improve memory function when it occurs before memory encoding (discussed above), but when the bout of exercise occurs during the consolidation period, it may help to facilitate memory retrieval (Mello‐Carpes & Izquierdo, ; van Dongen et al ., ; da Silva de Vargas et al ., ). Recently da Silva de Vargas et al .…”

“…Recently da Silva de Vargas et al . () demonstrated that when exercise occurred immediately after memory encoding, subsequent performance on an object‐recognition task was enhanced (hypothesized to be the result of exercise‐induced modulation of norepinephrine). Notably, the NTS‐PGi‐LC (Nucleus of the Solitary Tract–Nucleus Paragigantocellularis–Locus Coeruleus) pathway is necessary for consolidation of object‐recognition memory, and activation of this pathway culminates with norepinephrine release in the hippocampus (Mello‐Carpes & Izquierdo, ).…”