Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Moderating role of Physical Activity on Sleep and Cognitive Performance

Publication Date

Fall 11-23-2026

College

College of Sciences & Mathematics

Department

Psychological Science, Department of

SURS Faculty Advisor

Linda Jones

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

Sleep quality and physical activity are associated with cognitive functioning, yet the extent to which physical activity influences the relationship between sleep and cognitive performance among college students remains unclear. Research states that “when potential moderators related to exercise parameters or participants' characteristics are examined, results suggest that 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise consistently benefits performance, with larger effects evident for executive function tasks with higher cognitive demands, for long-term memory tasks when exercise is performed before information encoding, and when considering individuals with lower initial cognitive performance levels” (Cisler, 2025). Furthermore, “accumulating evidence indicates that physical activity and sedentary behaviors exert divergent effects on sleep quality. (Yangyi, 2025). In a study of adults aged 50 and older, “higher physical activity is insufficient to ameliorate the rapid cognitive decline associated with short sleep” (Bloomberg, 2024). The present study aims to examine the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive performance and investigate whether physical activity moderates this in college-aged students. Twenty students aged 18 and older were recruited from Belmont University’s Department of Psychological Science and Neuroscience. Using a correlational design, participants will complete an online survey assessing demographic characteristics, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Students then complete a psychomotor test, from which data will be collected to analyze their cognitive performance. It is hypothesized that the relationship between regular exercise and cognitive performance will be stronger for individuals with higher sleep quality than for those with lower sleep quality.

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