There may be a direct link between cardiorespiratory fitness, cognitive functioning, and academic performance.
In a new study in the journal “Frontiers in Psychology”, researchers assessed endurance levels of 342 children and performed MRI scans on their brains. Children with superior cardiorespiratory fitness exhibited enhanced white matter volume in cognitive areas of the brain. Additionally, these children also went on to achieve superior academic performance.
Conclusions
Improving fitness levels is one of the most important things that children can do to develop a superior brain and get better grades in school.
References
Esteban-Cornejo, I., Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Verdejo-Roman, J., Cadenas-Sanchez, C., Mora-Gonzalez, J., Chaddock-Heyman, L., … & Catena, A. (2019). Physical fitness, white matter volume and academic performance in children: findings from the ActiveBrains and FITKids2 projects. Frontiers in psychology, 10.