How going for a run may benefit your fine motor skills

Before you tune your guitar or fire up your PlayStation, consider heading out for a short run. Neuroscience News reported a groundbreaking study out of the University of Copenhagen revealing the remarkable benefits of incorporating exercise into the learning process of the type of motor skills used in gaming.

This isn’t just about getting fit; it’s about enhancing your ability to remember and perform tasks automatically, from playing a musical instrument to mastering surgical procedures or leveling up your gaming skills.

The study

The study involved 67 participants and delved into the impact of exercise before and after learning motor skills on memory retention.

The researchers examined the subjects’ behavior and performance while reviewing one of four scenarios. First, participants either rested or exercised moderately on a bicycle. They then were subjected to a fine motor task, in the form of a simple computer game, that challenged their motor dexterity using a small device on their fingertips.

Finally, participants either had to exercise intensely on a fitness bike or rest. Researchers had one group that rested both before and after their motor task, one that trained both times, and two groups that trained once, either before or after. Their skill level and memory were tested again after seven days to assess whether they had retained what they had learned.

Exercise before or after learning

Researchers discovered that exercise not only optimizes memory formation, but results in a substantial 10 per cent improvement in remembering motor skills. The greatest memory improvement occurred when participants exercised both before and after learning a new skill, but exercise before or after the motor skill was beneficial.

“Things can’t go wrong if a bit of physical exercise is incorporated,” said study co-author Jesper Lundbye-Jensen.” A person will experience beneficial effects. This is probably because physical activity increases the brain’s ability to change, which is a prerequisite for remembering.”

Applicability across fields

This research isn’t confined to a specific domain—it has far-reaching implications for various fields, including rehabilitation and professional skill training. From recovering mobility after an accident to refining intricate motor skills, exercise proves to be a valuable ally.

The brain undergoes changes (called brain plasticity) essential for our ability to learn and remember new skills. These changes occur both while the new skill is being learned but also in the hours after when the memory is consolidated—meaning being physically active even after we’ve engaging in something new can be meaningful.

“In the study, we use the terms online and offline to describe these two aspects of learning—memory acquisition and retention. Both are important for us to acquire new motor skills and remember what we’ve learned,” Lundbye-Jensen said.

Beneficial for everyone

The positive effects of exercise on motor learning apply to individuals of all ages, from children developing motor skills to older adults undergoing rehabilitation. Even those with elite-level fine motor skills could potentially benefit from incorporating exercise into their training routines.

Researchers hope to be able to conduct longer-term studies where more lasting effects can be measured, as well as investigate whether the effects observed by the study become even greater as time passes.

The research unlocks a simple yet powerful strategy for improving memory retention in motor skill learning. So, the next time you’re learning something new, consider putting on your running shoes and heading out the door—it might just be the key to remembering your new skill with ease.

posted Monday January 22nd