Does Exercise Affect Cognitive Performance Differently in Men and Women

Abstract

There are known sex differences between men and women when completing memory tasks. Men are better at completing the mental rotations task and women are better at the object search tasks. Previous studies suggest that small bouts of exercise can have an effect on cognition. The current study examined the effects of exercise on certain cognitive tasks. The mental rotations test measured spatial ability and the object array task measured object memory. Three different types of exercise were examined, including cardiovascular, stretch, and resistance training. Each of these different exercise types can have different benefits for an individual. This study is important because physical fitness is a main part of life. Going to the gym or a workout session is not the only way to be physically fit, but it can include; walking to a destination, taking the stairs, walking a dog, or doing stretches in the morning. Exercise is all around and accessible in many different forms. The present study found that exercise decreased performance on the cognitive tasks when exercise was included. The study concluded that participants that exercised regularly had similar or worse spatial ability and object memory performance to those who regularly exercised.