How does jogging exercise affect the brain? An experiment by Japanese scientists

How does jogging exercise affect the brain? An experiment by Japanese scientists

Just 10 minutes is enough to see results.

“You want to be smart – run!” – said the ancient Greek sages. And they were right. Scientists believe that just 10 minutes of running a day improves brain function. We share the results of a new study.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, founder and coach of the running club ERA.

Endurance training, particularly running, may prevent dementia.

During the experiment, they were able to understand exactly which parts of the brain and mechanisms are affected by running. It turned out that exercise improves executive functions – the ones we use on a daily basis. For example, controlling, planning, achieving goals. In their work, the researchers hypothesized that running increases blood flow in exactly those areas of the brain that are responsible for these processes. This is because jogging requires focus for coordination and balance.

Alexander: To test this link, they used fNIRS, a new method that assesses changes in blood flow in different areas of the brain. Participants performed a series of psychological tests before and after jogging at an easy pace. The load was dosed by heart rate. As a control, the same tests were performed on other days – without physical activity. The results showed that a 10-minute run at an intensity of about 50% of personal maximum increased the volunteers’ overall levels of arousal and enjoyment. Thanks to this, the participants were able to improve their results in the Stroop color test (you have to identify the color of the inscription that contradicts the color – for example, the word “green” is written in red).

Alexander: Endurance training, particularly running, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and prevents dementia associated with aging changes in the brain vessels. And it also improves mood, prevents the development of depression, and, a new study finds, improves some higher-order brain functions.