Wednesday 29/October/2025 – 07:53 AM
Dr. Kunal Sood, an anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine specialist, revealed an interesting relationship between post-study exercise and an increase in the brain’s ability to retain information, stressing that timing plays a crucial role in influencing memory and learning.
Exercising after studying may stimulate memory
According to what was published by the Hindustan Times newspaper, Dr. Sood said in a clip posted on Instagram that engaging in moderate physical activity for 20 to 30 minutes after a few hours of studying helps consolidate the information in memory better the next day. He explained that the secret lies in the high level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF, which is a protein that strengthens nerve connections and promotes the formation of new cells in the hippocampus, the memory center in the brain.
He pointed out that a study conducted on 72 participants found that those who exercised after four hours of learning remembered more information two days later, compared to those who exercised immediately or did not exercise at all, and brain scans also showed stronger activity in the hippocampus.
Programming the brain to learn more efficiently
Dr. Sood added that exercise not only activates the body, but also reprograms the brain to learn more efficiently, stressing that waiting a few hours after studying gives the brain time to consolidate memories before exercise reinforces them.
Other studies support these findings, with research showing that a year of regular aerobic exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus by approximately 2% in older people, and raise BDNF levels, which improves memory and slows the decline of cognitive abilities.
Dr. Sood concludes that regular exercise after learning is not just a way to maintain fitness, but an effective tool to rewire the brain and strengthen long-term memory.
