Does Exercise Make Us Smarter? Why Are We Still Asking This Question?
Really? Do we still need to be asking this question? Have we not been served enough data on a silver platter to substantiate whether exercise has a positive effect on our ability to learn? Really?
Let me take this opportunity to clear up any questions you may still have.
“Exercise cues up the building blocks of learning, and social interaction cements them in place. The stimulus of social interaction starts your neurons firing like nothing else – it’s complicated, challenging, rewarding, and fun. When you combine this sort of mental activity with the priming effect of exercise, you’re maximizing the growth potential of your brain.”
Dr. John J. Ratey, M.D. - Harvard Medical School
Recent research has demonstrated the powerful connection between a sound body and a sound mind. This Mind-Body Connection shows that as we exercise, not only do our muscles grow stronger, but our brains grow stronger as well. In fact, exercise improves the rate of learning, helping the brain to learn more efficiently and effectively.
Two recent studies have documented the Mind-Body Connection. In his book SPARK – The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, Dr. John Ratey of Harvard Medical School found that aerobic exercise increases the levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, and that increased levels of these neurotransmitters positively affects brain activity, attention and learning. Examining the academic success of school systems that have focused their physical education programs on aerobic fitness, Dr. Ratey explains the science behind these academic success stories. He describes exercise as Miracle-Gro™ for the brain, and explains that exercise, and more specifically aerobic exercise, increases levels of serotonin , n o r e p i n e p h r i n e , a n d d o p ami n e : neurotransmitters affecting brain activity, attention, and learning. In the end, Ratey states, “My hope is this book will encourage you to grab your gym bag instead of the remote, or spend time on the field rather than the sidelines.”
The second study showing the Mind-Body Connection was conducted by Carl Cotman, Director of the Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia at the University of California, Irvine. Cotman’s work showed a direct biological connection between movement and cognitive function. His work showed that exercise was one of the common factors in sustaining cognitive ability during the aging process. Cotman also found that exercise helped the brain learn more efficiently and improved the rate of learning in his subjects.
The California Department of Education developed a 5-year study to better understand the correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement. They compared data from the 2004 Physical Fitness Test (PFT) with the California Standards Test (CST) studying achievement in English, Math, History, and Science. In addition to matching each individual student’s record, they also took into account socioeconomic status. In April of 2005, they published their results which concluded that there is a strong positive relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement, regardless of wealth or gender.
While exercise helps the brain develop, the right type of exercise in the proper environment hastens the process. Ratey found that when you combine aerobic exercise with complex movement you maximize the benefits of the exercise. As he states, “the more complex the movements, the more complex the synaptic connections.” Complex motor skills have to be learned and therefore challenge the brain which causes it to develop more quickly.
Let’s take the abundance of information like the above mentioned and do something with it. Make no mistake, the question has been answered…
EXERCISE DOES MAKE US SMARTER!
