Short exercise breaks can improve cognitive function

A review of 25 clinical trials involving 1,115 participants aged 8 to 78 suggests that short bursts of physical activity, known as “exercise snacks,” can provide immediate improvements in cognitive function.

These activity breaks, lasting less than 10 minutes, involve interrupting prolonged periods of sitting with movements such as walking, stretching, yoga, climbing stairs, or light resistance exercises. While the observed effect size was modest (a Hedges' g score of 0.24), researchers noted measurable benefits in working memory, sustained attention, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control.