New research highlighted by New Scientist suggests that very short bursts of physical activity, taken regularly throughout the day, can support cognitive function. The report indicates that just two minutes of walking around or stretching every hour may be enough to produce measurable improvements in memory and attention span.
This finding points to the value of breaking up long periods of sitting with light movement. Rather than requiring a full workout, the reported benefit comes from simple, low-intensity actions repeated each hour.
The mechanism isn't described in detail in the source, but the practical implication is clear: frequent, brief movement could be a straightforward way to help maintain mental sharpness during the day.