The Effect of Short-Term Aerobic Exercise on Learning Speed and Memory Stabilization and Long-Term Potentiation of CA1 Region in Wistar Rats

Studies have shown that exercise can affect learning and memory. This study intended to investigate the effect of short-term aerobic exercise on memory and learning in both behavioral and electrophysiological methods.

In this research, 30 male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 10 for electrophysiological testing, and 2 groups of 5 for behavioral testing. First, the exercise groups were compelled by a running wheel machine at 17.5 m/minute for 2 hours per day, during 10 days. Then, in both exercise and control groups, using electrophysiological method, long-term potentiation was induced and synaptic plasticity change in the CA1 region was recorded and evaluated for 90 minutes. Exercise and control groups were trained in passive avoidance device to evaluate the effect of exercise on memory recall, and were tested at 0 and 24 hours, and one week after receiving shocks.

In the electrophysiological method, the index of recorded responses (field excitatory postsynaptic potentials) was not significantly different between exercise and control groups. In the passive avoidance learning test, the delay time of entering the dark room at 0 and 24 hours and one week after receiving shocks in the control group was significantly longer than the exercise group, and the time of staying in the dark room in exercise group was significantly longer than control group, 24 hours after receiving the shock.

It can be concluded that short-term moderate intensity exercise cannot significantly change the avoidance memory and cognitive activity of the animal, and will not affect changes in synaptic plasticity in the animal.