Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
scientificamerican.com
Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
1–10 of 138 posts
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#2The claim is that by running around outdoors, the brain gets used in a variety of ways such as navigation, decision-making, and sensory processing. Then why doesn't driving around in a car have similar benefits? Or does it?
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#3The claim is that by running around outdoors, the brain gets used in a variety of ways such as navigation, decision-making, and sensory processing. Then why doesn't driving around in a car have similar benefits? Or does it?
Good question. It might - maybe that's why people say - driving is stressing or exhausting. One distinction - While running you are physically moving, and not while driving
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#4The claim is that by running around outdoors, the brain gets used in a variety of ways such as navigation, decision-making, and sensory processing. Then why doesn't driving around in a car have similar benefits? Or does it?
The same question could be asked for many video games, which require the same things.
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#5Excellent article!
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#6The claim is that by running around outdoors, the brain gets used in a variety of ways such as navigation, decision-making, and sensory processing. Then why doesn't driving around in a car have similar benefits? Or does it?
The same question could be asked for many video games, which require the same things.
It says in the article that cognitively demanding video games + exercise together equals more BDNF
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#7The claim is that by running around outdoors, the brain gets used in a variety of ways such as navigation, decision-making, and sensory processing. Then why doesn't driving around in a car have similar benefits? Or does it?
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Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#8The claim is that by running around outdoors, the brain gets used in a variety of ways such as navigation, decision-making, and sensory processing. Then why doesn't driving around in a car have similar benefits? Or does it?
I doubt driving (or video games) engages the brain the same way.
Driving, you're heavily insulated from most noise (or, like in my Jeep, your hearing is overwhelmed by road noise). You're not smelling your environment, nor feeling it, and certainly you're not exercising as many muscle groups.
I'd speculate (ok, wild guess) that it's the combination of blood flow, muscle exercise, all of your senses, which is so beneficial. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Child_in_the_Woods.
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#9The article or study is on to the beginning of something but it seems too light on causal links to be substantial. The effects of BDNF and other brain drugs have an entertaining defcon talk in the biohacking village. Cognitive enhancing drugs stuff looks ripe for exploration, though the side effects are concerning.
Re: Evolutionary history and why physical activity is important for brain health
#10> For example, we recently showed that collegiate cross-country runners who train extensively on outdoor trails have increased connectivity among brain regions associated with executive cognitive functions compared with healthy but more sedentary young adults.
I've definitely noticed a cognitive boost when I switched from gym weightlifting to cardio/endurance based on outdoors activities (trailrunning, strenuous hikes). The latter has given me an intense calm and mental space to work on problems that I did not get from weightlifting.