10 minutes of exercise enough to boost brain
A new study demonstrates that just 10 minutes of exercise enough to boost brain, thereby enhancing mental performance.
The Healthiest
A new study demonstrates that just 10 minutes of exercise enough to boost brain, thereby enhancing mental performance. So, next time you need a cognitive kick-start, contemplate jogging around the block.
In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the connection between physical activity and cognitive function. It is becoming increasingly evident that there is a positive connection.
Physical activity, for example, has been demonstrated to prevent age-related cognitive decline.
Additionally, exercise may protect against Alzheimer's disease. And at the opposite extreme of the age spectrum, physical activity appears to improve the academic performance of young children over time.
However, the effects of a single, short burst of activity on cognitive performance are not as well-established.
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A review published earlier this year concluded that periods of exercise lasting approximately one hour have significant benefits for executive function, which includes attentional control, cognitive inhibition, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.
Another study discovered that a single 20-minute exercise session can improve mental performance. However, what is the minimum quantity of exercise that has a measurable effect on the brain?
Recently, researchers from Western University in Ontario, Canada, sought to determine if there is a minimum quantity of physical activity that provides significant benefits to the brain. Professor Matthew Heath, supervisor of the Neuroscience Graduate Program, supervised the study group.
He explains the significance of the study by stating, "Due to time or physical limitations, some individuals are unable to commit to a long-term exercise regimen."
Understanding the minimum requirements could be extremely beneficial for these individuals. Knowing that even a small quantity of exercise will be beneficial could provide valuable motivation for a person who has difficulty moving.
10 minutes of exercise enough to boost brain
How can 10 minutes of exercise enough to boost brain?
Participants in the current study either sat and read a magazine for 10 minutes or performed a 10-minute flurry of moderate to vigorous exercise on an exercise bike.
After the activities, the cognitive abilities of the participants were assessed. Using sophisticated eye-tracking apparatus, they measured their reaction times to the antisaccade test, a cognitively challenging eye-movement task.
People are instructed to fixate on a stationary target, typically a small dot, for this task. The target is then presented with a second dot on one of its sides. The subject is instructed to adjust his or her gaze in the opposite direction of the stimulus. The participants must turn to the right if a stimulus appears to the left of the initial objective.
Also read: Sitting harms brain health, regardless of exercise
The researchers believe that the surge of physical activity stimulates the frontoparietal network, which has previously been linked to exercise-induced brain enhancements.
A 2014 study, for instance, found that an exercise program enhanced the frontoparietal integrity of obese adolescents. However, additional research is required to precisely identify the brain regions implicated.
These findings may be significant for a wide range of individuals, including those with early-stage dementia who are unable to move for extended periods of time.
According to Prof. Heath, "This demonstrates that individuals can cycle or walk briskly for a brief duration, even once, and experience immediate benefits."
However, the results are pertinent to everyone. Prof. Heath offers additional guidance: "I always tell my students to exercise before taking a test or exam, attending an interview, or engaging in any other cognitively demanding activity. According to our research, the brain's networks approve. They execute better."
