Brain Function and Exercise

(2005 Brain Power Newsletter Archive)

Can you have better brain function with exercise? Yes, according to studies reported on at the annual Meeting Of The Society Of Psychophysiological Research in Montreal recently. Findings showed immediate benefits from exercising, as well as long-term effects. It seems that exercise helps your brain work more efficiently and actually makes you smarter.

The thinking ability of subjects was tested in one of the studies. After taking tests, participants ran on a treadmill for thirty minutes. Once their heart rates returned to normal resting levels they took the follow-up tests. The subjects were connected to an electroencephalogram (EEG), in order to track their brain waves.

Researchers noted that exercising had sped up the speed of their decision-making. The difference was only a fraction of a second on average, but this is considered a significant difference. Also, upon scoring the tests, it was found that the subjects answered more accurately after the exercise than before. They basically had faster, smarter brains.

Study participants were in their twenties, but researchers think the findings will hold true for other age groups as well. Another study involving exercise showed that just ten minutes of moderate exercise each day can improve mood and reduce fatigue. Brain function wasn't specifically tested, but it seems likely that less fatigue means better brainpower.

The Best Exercise For Brain Function?

Research has mainly focused on the duration of exercise more than on the specific type. Aerobic exercise is the most common type tested in the studies, however. It's likely that running, bicycling, swimming, dancing and any other aerobic exercises will have the same effect on brain function.

As little as ten minutes of exercise is apparently enough to have effects on the brain, although it's not clear how much more benefit there may be with longer exercise sessions. It worth noting that while most scientists probably expected to find that brain function resulted from long-term exercise programs, the study using treadmills showed an immediate effect as well. In other words, if you get up and run around right now, you can be smarter ten minutes from now.

In my experience, walking is one of the best ways to boost brain power. Apart from the aerobic benefits now being explained by recent studies, I think there is something more to walking and brain function. Maybe it's the rhythmic and relaxing nature of it, but myself and many others find that our clearest and most creative thinking happens when walking.

Exercise gives you better sleep, a healthier immune system, weight control, and a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Now you can add better brain function to that list. Why not get out and take a walk today?

Bye now,

Steve

P.S. For more on improving your brain function, you can visit the pages on brain foods and brain drugs.

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