Experts Call Sports Able To Improve Children's Cognitive Capabilities

Illustration (Carlos Magno/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - A study finding exercise before learning activities can increase children's cognitive capacity so that learning activities become more effective. The researchers found that at least 20 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise with a maximum 60 percent of the maximum heart rate could increase learning capacity in children as soon as Washington Post reported.

"Just think about walking speeds to school in the morning," said Charles Hillman, lead author of the study and director of the Association from the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health at the University of Northeastern, quoted from ANTARA.

In the study, pre-teen children walked on a treadmill for 20 minutes and after that were given cognitive tests. The conclusion is that "aerobic training (sports for heart and lung fitness) which is quite intense can improve cognitive control and increase children's learning concentration", for at least 60 minutes after exercise.

Aerobic exercise, Hillman said, helps children to be able to concentrate while carrying out learning tasks, and helps them to get rid of disturbances. This focus allows them to process information more quickly, Hillmam said.

Children who exercise before studying achieve higher scores in reading and math. Helping hyperactive children In 2012 similar research was also conducted with a focus on studying whether exercise can help children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) who are having difficulty focusing.

The results of the study show that shortly after exercise, children with ADHD have better abilities in reading and math tests, and have a higher level of attention and better self-control than those without exercising before doing learning activities.

In addition, in a study in early 2020, children aged 11 to 16 years with ADHD cycling for 20 minutes with moderate intensity showed a similar increase in learning tasks, at least 60 minutes after they exercise.