Through the years, researcher have expressed how important exercise is to brain activity. The bottom line, exercise enhances cognitive skills. There were many doubters of this theory, but now research has proved this to be accurate. An article in the New York Times (link) states, “Now an expanding body of research shows that exercise can improve the performance of the brain by boosting memory and cognitive processing speed. Exercise can, in fact, create a stronger, faster brain.” This is just another reason why the childhood obesity epidemic facing our youth is a major problem, and the need for daily, quality physical education in the schools. This article should really motivate parents to get their children up and moving.
The article went on the disprove a myth…”Conventional wisdom had long held that animal (and human) brains weren’t malleable: after a brief window early in life, the brain could no longer grow or renew itself. The supply of neurons — the brain cells that enable us to think — was believed to be fixed almost from birth. As the cells died through aging, mental function declined. The damage couldn’t be staved off or repaired.” Scientists have been finding more evidence that the human brain is not only capable of renewing itself but that exercise speeds the process. As we know, many body changes take place during exercise, but the extra blood flow to the brain help increase the production of neurons, allowing brain cells to multiply at a faster rate.
The study also stated that this finding not only affects adults, but children….Snip…..Other University of Illinois scientists have studied school-age children and found that those who have a higher level of aerobic fitness processed information more efficiently; they were quicker on a battery of computerized flashcard tests. The researchers also found that higher levels of aerobic fitness corresponded to better standardized test scores among a set of Illinois public school students. The scientists next plan to study how students’ scores change as their fitness improves……Snip
Through the years, researcher have expressed how important exercise is to brain activity. The bottom line, exercise enhances cognitive skills. There were many doubters of this theory, but now research has proved this to be accurate. An article in the New York Times (link) states, “Now an expanding body of research shows that exercise can improve the performance of the brain by boosting memory and cognitive processing speed. Exercise can, in fact, create a stronger, faster brain.” This is just another reason why the childhood obesity epidemic facing our youth is a major problem, and the need for daily, quality physical education in the schools. This article should really motivate parents to get their children up and moving.
The article went on the disprove a myth…”Conventional wisdom had long held that animal (and human) brains weren’t malleable: after a brief window early in life, the brain could no longer grow or renew itself. The supply of neurons — the brain cells that enable us to think — was believed to be fixed almost from birth. As the cells died through aging, mental function declined. The damage couldn’t be staved off or repaired.” Scientists have been finding more evidence that the human brain is not only capable of renewing itself but that exercise speeds the process. As we know, many body changes take place during exercise, but the extra blood flow to the brain help increase the production of neurons, allowing brain cells to multiply at a faster rate.
The study also stated that this finding not only affects adults, but children….Snip…..Other University of Illinois scientists have studied school-age children and found that those who have a higher level of aerobic fitness processed information more efficiently; they were quicker on a battery of computerized flashcard tests. The researchers also found that higher levels of aerobic fitness corresponded to better standardized test scores among a set of Illinois public school students. The scientists next plan to study how students’ scores change as their fitness improves……Snip