Study reveals 1 quick thing kids can do to boost their test scores

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LOS ANGELES - A quick, nine-minute burst of high-intensity exercise may help children do better in school, according to new research examining how brief workouts affect brain activity and academic skills.

The study, published in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity, found that short high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) sessions improved both brain efficiency in processing errors and word recognition fluency in children ages 9 to 12.

Researchers say the findings could guide schools in using short, targeted movement breaks to improve learning outcomes without disrupting classroom schedules.

How the study worked

Scientists tested 25 children in a within-subjects experiment, meaning each participant tried all three activity types:

• Nine minutes of high-intensity interval exercise
• Nine minutes of moderate-intensity stationary cycling
• A seated rest period

Brain activity was monitored using electroencephalography (EEG) during a flanker task, which measures inhibitory control — the ability to stay focused and avoid distractions. Students also completed reading-related academic tests after the HIIE and seated rest sessions.

What researchers found

What we know:

Children who completed the high-intensity workout showed a significant reduction in error-related negativity (ERN) amplitude, a brain marker linked to error processing. Researchers say that change suggests improved neural efficiency, meaning the brain worked more effectively to detect and process mistakes.

The quick workout also led to higher scores in word recognition fluency compared to the seated rest condition, with a positive trend in decoding fluency as well. Moderate-intensity cycling did not produce the same results.

Why you should care:

The results offer a potential solution for boosting learning without cutting into core instruction time. National surveys show most children fail to meet daily exercise recommendations, and classroom time for recess and physical education has declined.

FILE - A student works on a test at a classroom desk during the school day. (Photo by John Paraskevas/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

Lead author Eric S. Drollette said integrating high-intensity movement into the classroom could enhance both physical health and cognitive performance. "These brief sessions are realistic for classrooms and could have a measurable impact on learning," the authors wrote.

What we don't know:

Researchers say larger, long-term studies will be needed to confirm the results and determine the best ways for schools to implement these short exercise sessions.

• Whether the benefits of a single workout extend to other subjects like math or science.
• How long the improvements in brain efficiency and reading performance last.
• Whether daily or weekly high-intensity sessions would produce greater academic gains.

Authorities have not yet determined the long-term impact of integrating these workouts into school routines.

The backstory:

Prior studies have linked exercise to improvements in memory, attention, and other cognitive functions in children. But most research has focused on longer exercise sessions in controlled lab settings — formats that can be impractical in classrooms.

This new study suggests that a short, intense workout might pack enough mental benefits to be worth the time in a school day.