The power of exercise on our brain
This article is inspired by Wendy Suzuki’s Ted Talk
You all have probably heard of the saying “the brain is like a muscle”. This quote keeps a lot of middle and high schoolers sitting for endless hours in front of their desks and solving maths problems.
But what if I said that the opposite is also quite true? Yes, sweating your butt will make you smarter!
According to neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki, exercise is the most transformative thing that you can do to your brain today. Simply moving our body has instant, abiding, and positive effects on the gooey mass between your ears.
How? (for all the science folks wondering)
There are 2 important parts in the brain linked to this segment- Prefrontalcortex( responsible for decision making, focus, attention, and developing personality) and Hippocampus( forms and retains long-term memories related to facts and events).
Exercise, in general, increases the size of both these areas by producing new brain cells which in turn increases the volume of these parts and makes them stronger.
What are these transformative effects?
- Immediate effects- increases levels of dopamine and serotonin
- Improved reaction times
- Improved focus and attention
- Protective effect- takes time for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia to actually have an effect
This clearly proves that exercise is essential for a healthy brain. But what kind of exercise? Any type of exercise that makes your heartbeat go up! This refers to a cardiorespiratory workout or what we dreadfully call “CARDIO”. This doesn’t imply doing cardio for the rest of your life( I know you hate cardio!) but doing a minimum of 3–4 times a week for 30 mins. Even taking the stairs, running after your pet dog, and taking a brisk walk contribute to the bare minimum amount of cardio to be done.
Conclusion: Want to get smart? Get your body off the bed and start running!
