Chronic Running Exercise Promotes Spatial Learning and Memory in Rats

Exercise has beneficial effects on brain function, and induces constructional changes in different parts of brain, synapses, hippocampal neurogenesis, neuronal activity, synaptic structure, synthesis and enhancement of neurotransmitters as well as learning and spatial memory. In this study, 40 rats were divided in four groups according to their exercise level: control, 40, 30, and 8 days exercise. Spatial learning and memory was recorded in the Morris water maze during 8 days. Latency and the length of swim path were used to evaluate spatial learning and long-term memory (the percent of the time). The data was analyzed by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Significant increase was found in total means of eight day long-term memory among three exercise groups in comparison with control group (p)