Axios Finish Line: Exercise can boost memory

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There is a link between how much you exercise and how well you can remember things.

• Why it matters: We know that moving the body can be good for the mind, but a new studypublished in scientific reportsshows that different forms of exercise can benefit different aspects of brain function, such as memory.

🖼️ Zoom out: The researchers collected a year’s worth of Fitbit physical activity data from study participants and then gave them memory tests.

• They found that those who were more active remembered better where things were, details of stories and words from foreign languages.

💡 Between lines: The study authors came across another fascinating discovery.

• Just as different types of exercise affect our bodies differently (think of how long-distance running can strengthen your heart and legs, while bicep curls strengthen your arms), they can also affect your brain in different ways.

🧠 Chew this: People who had just finished rigorous training, such as high-intensity interval training, were particularly good at “spatial learning,” or remembering where something was. And people who had done a lower-intensity exercise, like a walk, were good at “naturalistic recall,” or recalling details of a story.

The next time you can’t find your keys, do a quick round of jumping jacks. And if you can’t remember what your friend told you yesterday, maybe you’ll go for a walk. Hey, it’s worth a try!