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Exercising can be a very rewarding experience. The positive results are easy to see, noticeable on the outside of the body as well as on the inside. These usually involve increased stamina, enhanced coordination, and a greater tolerance for physical strain. But physical activities have subtler benefits as well. These benefits might not be apparent at first, but thankfully scientists have started looking into the deeper effects of exercise.
Before discussing the effect of physical activities on memory, and cognition in general, it is important to understand what cognition is, and how cognitive processes work. Strictly speaking, cognition is our ability to record, process, and store information in order to find solutions and predict possible outcomes. The functions of the brain are usually relegated to specific areas of the cortex.
However, when a process is triggered there are usually several areas involved at once. For example, short-term memories are processed in the prefrontal cortex. That’s also where long-term memories are stored. The process by which short term memories become long term memories is carried out by the hippocampus. And when your brain tries to retrieve a memory it is the basal ganglia that takes over.
All of this happens in a matter of nanoseconds. As such, we are never aware that a process as simple as recalling a memory actually involves a multitude of subprocesses to work. You’ve probably heard the myth that we only use 10% of our brain. The truth is that’s simply impossible. No matter how straightforward a cognitive process might seem to be there are several operations to be performed, even though you are not aware of them.
Memory is an active process that continually takes in new information, processes it, and turns it into long term memories, or discards it altogether. Likewise, old memories are not just thrown into box, and kept there forever. Old memories are subject to changes, reassessment and relabeling, just like new information.
What Happens
When we discuss the effects of exercise on memory it’s important to keep in mind that memory is a complex process. It is handled by many different areas of the brain at the same time.
When we exercise, there are a number of things happening to the brain. One of the most well-known effects of exercise is the release of endorphins. These are chemicals produced by the brain which bind to the neurotransmitters responsible for sending information about pain. Endorphins are, in a sense, the body’s natural analgesic. They reduce sensations of pain, stress and anxiety. This can lead to an improvement in your ability to remember things, since stress and anxiety impair your memory. Exercise also improves blood flow, particularly to the hippocampus region.
How It Works
Improved brain blood flow has a major impact on our cognitive processes because it brings a higher amount of oxygen into the brain. This sudden rush of resources improves neural activity, and generates a faster response rate. Synapses are able to send information faster, which leads to much more efficient cognitive processes.
Increased activity in the hippocampus region allows you to recall old memories much faster.
And memories are not just pictures of past events. They are the building blocks of knowledge, the key to finding solutions and creating new ideas. These bits of information are scattered all throughout the brain, depending on the category they are associated with. For example, creative thinking, which was traditionally associated with the right side of the brain, actually involves all sorts of separate networks in the brain. Coming up with an original and creative idea means calling up all sorts of pieces of information and finding links between them that were not previously obvious. This means the faster you can recall pieces of information the faster you can make connections between them. In short, it allows you to think faster.
How You Can Benefit
A study showed exercise can improve cognition and memory in subjects of all age groups
almost immediately after beginning a workout regiment. The more time spent pursuing the regiment, the better the results.
Because they trigger the production of endorphins, physical activities can also be used in alleviating the symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. However, it is still unclear just how effective it is against more severe cases of depression. Exercise should not be used as an alternative to specialized treatment in these cases. It is best to consult a specialist before trying alternative methods of treatment.
Our bodies evolved to be able to handle physical exertion and to thrive when we are physically active. Unfortunately, our modern lives are far different than the ones our ancestors lived. But our instincts and needs are still quite similar. We should indulge them from time to time.
