The effect of low- intensity short and long term physical activity on spatial learning and memory in rat

The researches conducted have demonstrated beneficial effects of physical activity on the nerve system specifically on learning and memory. However، very little is known about the effect of low- intensity physical activity on spatial learning and memory. In addition، there has been little investigation of the effect of exercise period on cognitive performance. In this research، we studied the effect of low- intensity short and long term physical activity on spatial learning and memory in rat. Healthy male albino-wistar rats were assigned into 3 groups randomly. Short and long- term physical activity and control (without treadmill running). At the end of training period، animals were trained and tested using Morris water maze. The data was analyzed by using the analysis of variance with repeated measure and one way ANOVA test. There was no significant difference between physical activity groups and control group in spatial learning in acquisition phase (p≥0. 05). But in spatial long- term memory tests، both trained groups were better than control group (p≤0. 01). Also، there was no significant difference between short and long term physical activity groups (p≥0. 05). Results of this study revealed that the low- intensity physical activity has no impact on spatial learning، but it improves spatial memory، significantly. Also there was no significant difference between short and long term physical activity، however long- term physical activity was better. Based on the results، the mechanisms involved in improving learning and memory are different، probably. And the amount of increase in cognitive performance is not equal to the amount of increase in exercise period.