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Cited by 768Physical Activity and HealthCardiovascular and exercise physiologyCognitive Abilities and Testing

The influence of physical fitness and exercise upon cognitive functioning: a meta-analysis

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Etnier, Jennifer L., Salazar, Walter, Landers, Daniel M., Petruzzello, Steven J., Han, Myungwoo, Nowell, Priscilla·1997·Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
DOI 10.1123/jsep.19.3.249
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Abstract

Nearly 200 studies have examined the impact that either acute or long-term exercise has upon cognition. Subsets of these studies have been reviewed using the traditional narrative method, and the common conclusion has been that the results are mixed. Therefore, a more comprehensive review is needed that includes all available studies and that provides a more objective and reproducible review process. Thus, a meta-analytic review was conducted that included all relevant studies with sufficient information for the calculation of effect size (N = 134). The overall effect size was 0.25, suggesting that exercise has a small positive effect on cognition. Examination of the moderator variables indicated that characteristics related to the exercise paradigm, the participants, the cognitive tests, and the quality of the study influence effect size. However, the most important finding was that as experimental rigor decreased, effect size increased. Therefore, more studies need to be conducted that emphasize experimental rigor.

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  • Across the same 37 studies, the summary statistic indicated a positive association between physical activity and cognitive performance.

    “Rather across the same 37 studies designed to test the effects of fitness on cognition, the summary statistic indicated that a positive association existed between physical activity and cognitive performance (172), confirming the findings of three previous meta-analytic reviews of this literature (108, 173, 473).”

    From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [173]

  • Physical activity has a significant positive association with students' cognitive functioning, such as concentration and memory.

    “Four reviews using meta-analytic techniques consistently showed that physical activity had a significant positive association with students' cognitive functioning (eg, concentration and memory).15,20,21,30”

    From Critical connections: health and academics (2015) · cites this paper as [20]

  • Evidence for exercise benefits on cognition remains variable, probably because of lack of randomized controlled trials across the lifespan with standardized exercise interventions and comparable cognitive assessment methods.

    “Of note, evidence for the benefits of exercise on cognition remains variable, probably owing to the lack of randomized controlled trials throughout the lifespan with standardized exercise interventions and comparable methods for cognitive assessment139–142.”

    From Exerkines in health, resilience and disease (2022) · cites this paper as [141]

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Authors
Etnier, J. L., Salazar, W., Landers, D. M., Petruzzello, S. J., Han, M., & Nowell, P.
Affiliations
  • Arizona State University (US)
  • 1Arizona State University
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Publisher
Human Kinetics
Published
1997-09
Volume
19
Issue
3
Pages
249-277
ISSN
  • 0895-2779 (ISSN-L)
  • 1543-2904
DOI
10.1123/jsep.19.3.249
OpenAlex
W2166439095
Cited by
768
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 39
FWCI
2.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords
physical fitness, physical activity, cognitive function, acute exercise, long-term exercise, effect size, experimental rigor, moderators, cognitive tests

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