Home Archived Research corner Back Research corner 26th September 2014, 1:00am Sarah Cunnane Share Research corner https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/research-corner-73 Copy Link `Aerobic fitness is associated with greater white matter integrity in children’ by Chaddock-Heyman, L, Erickson, K I, Holtrop J L et al Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, August 2014 (Frontiers)Extra time spent exercising could help students to beef up their brains, according to new research. Laura Chaddock-Heyman, a research associate in psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US, led a group of academics in an experiment to find out how physical activity affects the structure of white matter in children’s brains. White matter is important because it assists communication between different parts of the brain.After taking part in tests to determine eligibility and fitness levels, 24 children aged 9 and 10 were recruited from the Illinois area. They were each given an MRI scan. The tests found that the fitter children had more fibrous and compact white matter in parts of the brain dealing with attention and memory than their peers who were less fit. More compact white matter is associated with faster and more efficient nerve activity.However, the research did not look at whether the higher integrity of the white matter translated to benefits in cognitive function. Despite this, the authors urged educators to consider how physical activity could lead to better academic achievement.“These results arrive at an important time, as children become increasingly unfit and sedentary, and educators reduce or eliminate opportunities for physical activity during the school day in favour of academic topics,” the study says.It also points out that previous research has linked white matter to achievement in maths. “The removal of fitness training opportunities during the school day may unintentionally have deleterious effects on white matter tracts, potentially reducing scholastic achievement,” the researchers argue.Sarah CunnaneShare your views by tweeting @tesHot off the pressDeveloping as an Educational Leader and Manager by Megan Crawford (Sage Publications) ISBN 9780857029232Examining notions of leadership at all levels, this book contains numerous ideas on how to develop as a school leader. Suitable for new or experienced managers, it focuses on organisational improvement, managing people, values and context, and how to lead strategically within the context of changing policy frameworks.Genes: a very short introduction by Jonathan Slack (Oxford University Press) ISBN 9780199676507Jonathan Slack engages in an in-depth discussion of genes - specifically their discovery, nature and role in evolution and development. The book also examines how the term “gene” has been understood and used by molecular biologists, population biologists and social scientists around the world.Knowledge: a very short introduction by Jennifer Nagel (Oxford University Press) ISBN 9780199661268In this pocket-sized introduction to epistemology, Jennifer Nagel presents age-old questions concerning the relationship between knowledge and truth. She describes how philosophers have developed new ways of understanding knowledge, drawing on ideas from the study of logic, linguistics and psychology.For book queries, please email chloe.darracott-cankovic@tesglobal.com Want to keep reading for free? Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters. Register Log in Keep reading for just £1 per month You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get: Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content Exclusive subscriber-only stories Award-winning email newsletters Subscribe now Read more Why remembering pupils’ names is so important Sarah Cunnane • 27th August 2021 Stop making assumptions about child-free teachers Sarah Cunnane • 16th October 2020 Back to school: Trust in teachers this September Sarah Cunnane • 28th August 2020 Think twice before a digital detox Sarah Cunnane • 17th July 2020 Recent Most read Most shared Sir David Carter: ‘The language of ego is a shell’ Leadership 14 May 2024 ‘Significant’ primary teacher shortages likely despite falling rolls News 14 May 2024 Pensions grants shortfalls leave schools £70K worse off News 14 May 2024 School refusal: 4 ways to make your classroom happier Teaching & Learning 9 May 2024 Revealed: What Safety Valve deals ‘really mean’ News 10 May 2024 Behaviour in schools: is it really getting worse? Teaching & Learning 8 May 2024 Revealed: What Safety Valve deals ‘really mean’ News 10 May 2024 Experts warn of an ‘arts apocalypse’ in schools News 12 May 2024 5 ways to prepare for a (possible) summer heatwave Leadership 13 May 2024
