Brain Benefits of Exercise

A recent study conducted at the Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Dublin, Trinity College in Dublin asked a group of male college students who described themselves as "sedentary" to take part in a memory test followed by vigorous exercise. After exercising, they were asked to take the test again.

The study found that volunteers who exercised prior to the memory test performed better the second time around. Those who did not exercise did not show improvement.

What's more, blood samples taken during the test show that immediately after working out, the volunteers had higher levels of a protein known as BDNF, which is known to promote the health of nerve cells.

While scientists are still trying to figure out which parts of the brain are positively affected by exercise, this study conducted by the University of Dublin suggests that higher levels of BDNF brought about by exercise may improve memory and perhaps, overall brain function.

Other Brain Benefits

The cognitive upsides to regular exercise don't stop at memory. In fact, research has found that physical activity can have a variety of brain benefits:

1. Prevents cognitive decline such as dementia or Alzhemier's disease.

2. Improves symptoms associated with depression and bipolar disorder.

3. Combats stress and anxiety.

4. Enhances abilities associated with "planning, scheduling, inhibition, task coordination," according to a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.

Get Started Today

Going for a brisk walk three days a week, getting to the gym often, and running or riding your bike regularly can benefit you physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Research has supported this.

However, what if balancing work (maybe even two jobs), a family, and a personal life leaves you with little-to-no extra time or energy? What do you do then? A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that remaining active, even if it means cleaning, gardening, or walking to the store regularly can "[protect] against cognitive impairment."

So whether you're running five miles a day or cleaning five rooms a day, remaining active and keeping yourself moving can, and will, benefit your brain.

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Sources:

Activity Energy Expenditure and Incident Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/171/14/1251

Exercise Appears To Improve Brain Function Among Younger People
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061219122200.htm

Growing Stronger - Strength Training for Older Adults
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/growingstronger/why/index.html

Aerobic exercise improves hippocampal function and increases BDNF in the serum of young adult males.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21722657

Could Neurofeedback Retrain Your Brain?

Picture the scene from TV. A patient suffering from some mental malady is holed up in a windowless office, electrodes placed strategically about her head, while a screen records responses to various stimuli. It's fiction, but the premise is anchored in scientific accuracy.

The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) defines neurofeedback therapy (NFT) as a form of biofeedback that "uses monitoring devices to provide moment-to-moment information to an individual on the state of their physiological functioning." Essentially, neurofeedback works to alleviate irregularities in the brain such as depression, ADHD, and autism, by conditioning the patient's brain through a variety of patterned stimuli.

Before any patient undergoes NFT, a doctor will provide an objective brain assessment to determine her psychological status. During the procedure, electrodes are placed on the scalp of the patient and are connected to a computer which will record the brain's activity.

Once the brain's activity is fed into the computer's software, subtle messages are sent from the machine into the patient to regulate abnormal brain patterns. According to the ISNR, depending on "various principles of learning, and practitioner guidance, changes in brain patterns occur and are associated with positive changes in physical, emotional, and cognitive states." The messages sent from machine to patient will vary depending on the condition of the patient.

Although the procedure may sound extremely complex, the intended results are not. NFT seeks to teach a brain with a particular abnormality how to behave normally.

Neurofeedback is very expensive and not many mental health professionals offer it. However, recent research has found the benefits of the treatment for people who suffer from:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorderAutismEpilepsyDepressionAnxietyPost-traumatic stress disorder

Sleep disorders

If you think you could benefit from NFT, discuss an action plan with you doctor. She will provide you with the necessary information concerning the risks, the benefits, payment plans, and what you can expect from the procedure.

Sources:

Allen Press (2008, February 28). Neurofeedback Helps Those With Autistic Disorders

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