1) Familiarize: After getting an introductory lecture on the neurological system, familiarize yourself with some of the information that links exercise with school: ABC news video excerpt on Naperville CSD, Naperville CSD article, Sparking Life though Exercise (VERY extensive website based on Dr. Ratey's information)
2) Research: The following are chemicals in the neurological system that are influenced by exercise, it's your job to figure out what the link is: glutamate, FGF-2, IGF-1, BDNF, VEGF, Serotonin, Cortisol, Endorphins, Endocannabinoids, Norepinephrine, HGH, Dopamine, GABA. Try and remember that we are looking at the link between exercise and how these chemicals may influence LEARNING.
Assignment: present the following information in a PPoint: 1) general information on your assigned chemicals 2) the effects of exercise on the chemical 3) link between exercise, chemical, and learning (will need information on parts of brain/functions). Please keep in mind that studies that support your information are mandatory, and pictures/diagrams are very helpful.
To help you with this, the following is a list research/studies that has already been done linking the two, you will have to use the following information to search (type into Google Scholar) for the specific study and once you find the study/abstract please create a link in the "comment" portion of this post b/c you WILL need the full citation of every study referenced. Please know that you are not restricted to the following list and may search for other studies.
- Virgina Tech: cut gym class not increase test scores
- California Dept. Ed: higher fitness scores led to increase test scores
- Craig Broeder: physiologist in Naperville, IL
- Tim McCord: Titusville, PA
- Carl Cotman: Univ. of Cal. @ Irving
- Susan Patterson: BDNF
- Fernando Gomez: Pinilla
- Scott Small: Columbia: cognitive function, neurogensis
- Greenough: complex coordination
- Mattson: "Neuroprotective signaling and the aging brain"
- Leeds Metropolitin Univ: 2004: survey gym and productivity
- Joshua Broman: Fulks, Univ Southern Miss. : exercise reduce anxiety sensitivity
- Chilean HS students, 2005
- Andreas Broocks, 1997, German panic disorder & exercise
- Andreas Strohle, 2005 & 2006
- Herbert de Vries, 1982: "Tranquilizing effects of exercise"
- Human population lab in Berkley: "Alameda County Study"
- Blumenthal: SMILE
- Ronald Duman:
- Alan Zametkin: ADHD landmark studies
- Australian study in British J. of Health & Pych. 2006: addition/self-regulation
- Scott Small: Columbia Univ.
- Charles Hillman
- Arthur Kramer
- P. Ekkekakis: exercise and discomfort
- Habitual Exercise Is Associated With Exercise-Induced Mood Enhancement, Shepanski, M A.; Hoffman, M D.; Ruble, S B.; Valic, Z; Buckwalter, J B.; Clifford, P S. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 33(5):S168, May 2001.
3) Experimental Design: In addition to outlining ALL the methods, as per Dr. Frank Cerny, "The instrument (or questionnaire) you use to monitor mood will be crucial." The standard instrument is the POMS (Profile of mood states) that has several versions including a brief one (still 5-10 minutes). There is another “feelings profile” that was derived from this that only took 2-5 minutes and could be used repeatedly.Use one of these or create your own similar, but include at least the following categories: Tension-Anxiety,Anger-Hostility, Fatigue-Inertia, Depression-Dejection, Vigor-Activity, Confusion-Bewilderment. Come up with several questions for the categories that you think are important and develop your own instrument. The usual would be to use a Likert scale (1-5) and have the persons rate their sensations (moods) with 1 being lower or less frequent and 5 being higher or more frequent.
4) Analysis:
5) Presentation: the class will collaborate and create a formal poster outlining your findings.
