How exercise strengthens the mind and improves learning
By Ria Uiterloo - Stichting EGO — Healthy Schools build healthy communities October 9, 2025 During the preparation of our Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities project in 2023, our team delved into the inspiring research of Dutch neuropsychologist Professor Erik Scherder . His studies showed that movement is not just beneficial for physical health, it also strengthens the brain, improving students’ performance in math and language . Yesterday, we came across the YouTube video “Exercise for Better Grades in School” , and it confirmed exactly what Scherder has been teaching for years: the more children move, the better their brains learn. The science behind movement and learning Professor Scherder, known for making neuroscience accessible to everyone, explains that physical activity activates the same brain areas used for attention, planning, and language. Movement increases blood flow, stimulates neural growth, and keeps the brain flexible, all essential ...