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چکیده
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Progressing physical activity is associated with improving cognitive functions in both rodents and humans. In this study the effect of a 3-week aerobic exercise protocol on English vocabulary learning and immediate recall of 31 healthy human male and female participants aged 18-30 was examined, considering the serum level of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a growth factor which was mostly reported in the hippocampus of the brain. The participants were homogenized through a standard placement test (OPT), Baecke physical activity questionnaire, a blood test, and a vocabulary knowledge test to control such intervening factor. Then, they were randomly divided into one experimental and one control group consisting of 16 and 15 members, respectively. For vocabulary training, among words unknown to all the participants, 50 words were chosen, and taught in the text context in eight sessions. The experimental group received nine sessions of chronical aerobic exercise treatment prior to English training sessions, while the control group did not. Using statistical comparisons between the groups, both in pre-post interventions and over a period of time, the results showed the significant outperformance of the experimental group over the control one in learning and immediate recalling of vocabulary. Also, through a blood sampling with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA) method, it was found that the aerobic exercises have increased significantly the serum-level BDNF in the post-test, implying that stimulating new neurological pathways can prompt the positive effects of the aerobic exercise on vocabulary learning and recall performance. Moreover, the comparison between males and females of exercising group, significantly showed males’ superiority in English vocabulary learning and immediate recall; however, a significant sex difference was not reported for the control group and the serum level of BDNF of both groups. Through the findings, it may be concluded tha
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