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Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

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Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#61

Post by edblarney »

zw123456 wrote: post #59

I have been a runner for just about my whole life (ran track in HS) is started listening to music when the small mp3 players first came out and I noticed that it seemed to interfere with my "runners high" a little bit. I know this is tied to beta endorphins but I also think there is a Zen like aspect. So I stopped using the player and instead just let my mind run free too. My theory is that running can also unlock a…

"I notice how much more clearly I can think after."

Yes me to. I'm quite past 30 and on most days I feel a little crap. After a run, I feel 20-something in terms of energy, motivation and attitude.

I think it's a combination of the endorphins, and then the rebalancing of sugar levels. I feel as though my metabolism has been 'reset to something proper'.

I think that light cardio is the closest thing to the fountain of youth.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#62

Post by agumonkey »

oddlyaromatic wrote: post #52
criddell wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How old were you when you learned music? I've been trying to learn to play guitar on and off for 25 years now. It's a huge struggle for me. For a while I'll practice daily, make very little progress, get frustrated and bored, then quit. A year later I start over and no progress is ever made. I've had different teachers and different instruments (I love the gear part of it) and I know what's really needed is grit. I d…

I've taught guitar on and off over the years, including to retirees- I would say you are never to old too learn. Please forgive how reductive this comment will be, it may not help at all. I do think you have to have this coincidence inside you where you can learn to love practicing, and not knowing things. The trickier or more stupid something is, the more you have to love unpacking that problem, and allow yourself t…

It's partly how I learned music. It was a deep curiosity about what and why. You just like to try to emulate that sound, try all variations.

The plot twist was that it turned into "how to learn". Because you can try things blind forever and never make progress. There's a million way to be wrong in music. It teaches you patience and sensitivity. All the beautiful rhythms are very small details invisible to the newcomer, you have to go slow in order not to miss them.

The "between" trick is important. I told above about inertia and thinking about moving as constantly flowing and not as spaced points.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#63

Post by xivusr »

I've been running since XC in HS, but reconnected in my mid twenties to overcome addictions.

Since then I've more or less just substituted one for the other, but the running seems to have better long-term effects.

The activity is closely connected with my work and personal life -- in that when I don't run, the rest of my life suffers.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#64

Post by agumonkey »

frenchhacker wrote: post #48
agumonkey wrote: post #3

I found that learning music unlocked pattern comprehensions that were very mathematical. Multiple layers of abstraction (rhythm or note points, derivatives of these two, overlay, non linear transformations, and the equivalent momentum phenomenons). Running is something that trigger creative mind activity for me. And a form of flow. I wouldn't be surprised if other physical activity would do the same: climbing, even b…

any book/website to recommend about music theory?

No, none, in early 2Ks I just skimmed the first ones Google told me to

Since we're on HN, I could suggest you to search "clojure music" on youtube. There are a few talks about a dude revisiting music theory from wave freq. all up to Bach all in a few pages of clojure code. Very Very very cool.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#65

Post by timbowhite »

zw123456 wrote: post #59

I have been a runner for just about my whole life (ran track in HS) is started listening to music when the small mp3 players first came out and I noticed that it seemed to interfere with my "runners high" a little bit. I know this is tied to beta endorphins but I also think there is a Zen like aspect. So I stopped using the player and instead just let my mind run free too. My theory is that running can also unlock a…

> I notice how much more clearly I can think after.

If the run is more strenuous, do you still see the same effect?

For me, a 3 miler at a relaxed pace definitely helps me be more focused afterwards.

But if I'm going full tilt up and down hills, or running longer distances, I find myself mentally exhausted afterwards. My theory is that this is due to my mind constantly battling itself on these kind of runs ("THIS HURTS PLEASE STOP NOW" vs. "PUSH PUSH PUSH").

EDIT: I should say both types of runs are relaxing afterwards.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#66

Post by ZeroFries »

edblarney wrote: post #61
zw123456 wrote: post #59

I have been a runner for just about my whole life (ran track in HS) is started listening to music when the small mp3 players first came out and I noticed that it seemed to interfere with my "runners high" a little bit. I know this is tied to beta endorphins but I also think there is a Zen like aspect. So I stopped using the player and instead just let my mind run free too. My theory is that running can also unlock a…

"I notice how much more clearly I can think after." Yes me to. I'm quite past 30 and on most days I feel a little crap. After a run, I feel 20-something in terms of energy, motivation and attitude. I think it's a combination of the endorphins, and then the rebalancing of sugar levels. I feel as though my metabolism has been 'reset to something proper'. I think that light cardio is the closest thing to the fountain of…

Yes, the combo of balanced blood sugar + oxygen + CO2. Might also have something to do with alkalinity as your body clears the lactic acid (by perhaps becoming more alkaline after buffering).

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#67

Post by ipnon »

edblarney wrote: post #61
zw123456 wrote: post #59

I have been a runner for just about my whole life (ran track in HS) is started listening to music when the small mp3 players first came out and I noticed that it seemed to interfere with my "runners high" a little bit. I know this is tied to beta endorphins but I also think there is a Zen like aspect. So I stopped using the player and instead just let my mind run free too. My theory is that running can also unlock a…

"I notice how much more clearly I can think after." Yes me to. I'm quite past 30 and on most days I feel a little crap. After a run, I feel 20-something in terms of energy, motivation and attitude. I think it's a combination of the endorphins, and then the rebalancing of sugar levels. I feel as though my metabolism has been 'reset to something proper'. I think that light cardio is the closest thing to the fountain of…

>combination of endorphins

The primary component of a runner's high is attributed to a category of neurotransmitters known as endocannabinoids. Endorphins become the primary component of a runner's high when the body becomes structurally damaged, like when marathon runners struggle to remain standing and lose the ability to concentrate (note the similarities to heroin consumption). The feelings of well-being and the Zen-like state that comes about from running a few miles is almost entirely due to endocannabinoids, similar to when someone has consumed cannabis.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#68

Post by bo1024 »

Johnny555 wrote: post #60
bo1024 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think part of the point is that even apparently-"mindless" exercise is now shown to also be good. See this paragraph: > Previous studies have shown that activities that require fine motor control, such as playing a musical instrument, or that require high levels of hand-eye coordination, such as playing golf, can alter brain structure and function. However, fewer studies have looked at the effects of more repetitiv…

fewer studies have looked at the effects of more repetitive athletic activities that don’t require as much precise motor control — such as running Is it really true though that running doesn't require precise motor control? Every time I run, my feel "automatically" skip over imperfections in the road surface, placing my foot down early just before the big crack in the sidewalk, sidestepping the dog poop on the sidewa…

Great point. I was thinking that a great study to get at this could be comparing treadmill-only and outside-only runners.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#69

Post by Hydraulix989 »

timbowhite wrote: post #65
zw123456 wrote: post #59

I have been a runner for just about my whole life (ran track in HS) is started listening to music when the small mp3 players first came out and I noticed that it seemed to interfere with my "runners high" a little bit. I know this is tied to beta endorphins but I also think there is a Zen like aspect. So I stopped using the player and instead just let my mind run free too. My theory is that running can also unlock a…

> I notice how much more clearly I can think after. If the run is more strenuous, do you still see the same effect? For me, a 3 miler at a relaxed pace definitely helps me be more focused afterwards. But if I'm going full tilt up and down hills, or running longer distances, I find myself mentally exhausted afterwards. My theory is that this is due to my mind constantly battling itself on these kind of runs ("THIS HUR…

The harder I run, the better I feel mentally afterwards.

Re: Runners’ brains may be more connected, research shows

#70

Post by timbowhite »

Hydraulix989 wrote: post #69
timbowhite wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I notice how much more clearly I can think after. If the run is more strenuous, do you still see the same effect? For me, a 3 miler at a relaxed pace definitely helps me be more focused afterwards. But if I'm going full tilt up and down hills, or running longer distances, I find myself mentally exhausted afterwards. My theory is that this is due to my mind constantly battling itself on these kind of runs ("THIS HUR…

The harder I run, the better I feel mentally afterwards.

Yeah hard runs make me feel great, but it's more of a state of pleasant mental numbness. Mental focus and the ability to do any complex thinking stuff (coding, chess, etc) is entirely diminished.
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