The Study
Acute exercise increases BDNF and short-term memory in healthy adults.
This study watched what happened to 28 fit guys after they rode a stationary bike really hard. They found their brain chemicals and memory scores changed afterward. But since no one sat around doing nothing as a comparison, we can't be sure the bike ride caused the changes — maybe they just got better at the tests from practicing.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists had guys ride a stationary bike as hard as they could, then checked their brain chemical levels and memory before and after.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 531 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this means a single intense workout might help you remember things you just learned or where things are, but won't help you remember things from days ago or solve creative puzzles.
- 2BDNF (a brain growth chemical) went up 24 hours later, not right after.
- 3Memory for words and shapes improved 24 hours later, but long-term memory and creativity didn't change.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Neurobiology of learning and memory
Year
2026
Authors
E. Tommasini, E. Turco, A. Cancer, L. Colautti, P. Iannello, Alessandro Antonietti, S. Missaglia, Andrea Bosio, D. Tavian
Related Content
Claims (6)
Physical activity that causes muscles to contract raises levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the blood, leading to improved adaptability and function of neurons in the brain.
A single session of intense exercise does not improve verbal memory, short-term visual-spatial memory, or creative thinking in healthy young men the day after the workout.
After one intense cycling session, healthy young men show better short-term memory for words and spatial information the next day, but their long-term memory, short-term spatial memory, and ability to solve problems with a single correct answer remain unchanged.
After intense exercise, changes in BDNF levels in the blood do not align with changes in memory performance in healthy young men, meaning BDNF is not directly responsible for the memory changes seen after exercise.
After intense cycling, serum BDNF levels do not rise significantly within 15 minutes in healthy young adult males, showing that the neurotrophic response to acute exercise does not occur immediately.
After one intense cycling session, healthy young men show higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in their blood 24 hours later, but not 15 minutes after exercising.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.