People often talk about the physical and physiological benefits of exercise such as, physical attraction, muscle definition, decreased chance of a stroke or heart attack, and many others. However very often people neglect to ask themselves what the psychological effects of exercise are. As it turns out, neuroscience shows us that indeed there are many benefits to the brain as a result of exercise. The spectrum of benefits covers everything from plasticity to natural anti-depressants.
One of the most compelling benefits to the brain as a result of exercise, is the increased production of a chemical found in the hypothalamus known as the B-endorphin that acts as a natural anti-depressant. With depression being an ever increasing issue all over the world, it's a safe conclusion to say that exercise is better than no treatment at all, however exercise alone may not necessarily cure depression. Exercise can also serve as an alternative to depression for people that may not be able to afford medical treatment.
Another very beneficial outcome of exercise is the that decline of memory throughout the lifespan, cortex and hippocampus atrophy can be slowed down by exercise. synaptic plasticity, also known as brain plasticity, in dentate gyrus of the hippocampus also increases due to exercise. Plasticity is the ability of the brain to compensate for lost or damaged regions of the brain by re-directing those functions to other regions of the brain. Furthermore, exercise increases the amount of neurons in the hippocampus, a brain structure important to memory and learning. Exercise also increases the amount and improves the small blood vessels throughout the brain.
In conclusion I hope that this brief summary will at the very least serve as an incentive or motivation for people to get other out there and strive to exercise for at least a small amount of time each day. Not only will you feel better but you will also look better with just a few minutes of exercise a day.
original article: http://www.shockmd.com/2009/05/13/neuroscience-of-exercise/
This article was so interesting, because I have known people who believe that people who are depressed have to take medication.As if that was the only solution. I believe that getting the adequate help is talking to a therapist or a friend who supports you plus family who cares.
ReplyDeleteThis article reminded me of how so many people exercise not only to look and feel better but also to release stress. When individuals are stressed its very hard to concentrate and have full attention on the material or tasks they are performing. I find it very interesting how exercise is related to our brain and how it not only affects our physical appearance but also our brains and its activity by increasing the number of neurons in the hippocampus and other things needed for the brain to function.
ReplyDeleteThe effects of regular exercise are pretty amazing. Davis, et al. found that 30-45 minutes of after school exercise in overweight children improved their reading comprehension abilities significantly (2011). Most of the time, the only exercise I get is riding my bike 10 block or so, to and from class. Regular exercise is directly correlated to increased prefrontal activity. It's pretty amazing just how far reaching the effects of just a little exercise can be.
ReplyDeleteThe benefit of exercise has not only been linked to stress relief, but studies have also shown that exercise can be an equally effective solution to depression as anti-depressants. Not only does exercise strengthen the heart but makes people feel happier. A 2011 study that was published in Journal of Sports and Exercise Psychology showed that people who increased their daily activity by at least 10 minutes a day felt more "enthusiastic, alert, and excited" for the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article. As Eric mentioned, getting regular exercise may help improve executive functioning. One thing I also find interesting is that even a small amount of exercise has been proven to help with brain functioning. This type of research has many important clinical applications including the addition of exercise programming for schools given its physical as well as mental benefits.
ReplyDeleteThis article highlights the importance of studying the effects of exercise and the power it executes over our physical and psychological functioning. Indeed, exercise has positive effects on brain activity and it has even shown to drastically decrease stress levels. Exercise no longer is thought to solely strengthen muscle but now research indicates significant changes in brain chemistry due to regular exercise. Research even indicates that individuals who tested higher in cardiovascular tests also displayed greater activation in several cortical regions that affected various brain functions.
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