Your Brain on Movement

We’ve heard from a young age that exercise is important for our physical health, that exercise keeps our muscles toned and our bones strong. It makes sense— when we move, we are utilizing our muscles, burning calories, training our lungs, and in general working our bodies in order to maintain health. But in recent years, a newer finding has become popularized: exercise also works our brains. Movement, in fact, can act as a sort of preventative medicine to keep the brain healthy. It works in numerous ways.

First, movement of the body increases the heart rate, which means the heart is pumping more oxygenated blood to the brain. This, in turn, promotes the production of new brain cells and synapses, or connections between neurons. More synapses essentially means more learning. Experiments at the University of Illinois focused on exercising versus non-exercising rats and found that the rats that were constantly moving had more neuron connections. That means they had the propensity to learn and remember more just because their bodies were in motion. A study at the University of British Columbia demonstrated that regular aerobic exercise was linked to a larger hippocampus. This is the part of the brain that is highly involved in (you guessed it!) learning and memory. The increased number of synapses and the increased volume of the hippocampus, and therefore the brain’s improved abilities, are likely a result of constant movement.

Next, bodily movement triggers certain releases in the brain. A brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is released when you move. BDNF improves cognition, or thinking, and is also known to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. It does this by making it easier for neurons to communicate with each other through protection and amplification, therefore increasing the number of synapses even further. In other words, movement triggers a release of a special kind of protein in our brain. The protein protects and maintains neurons, and even helps them grow. Having mature and healthy brain cells is an important step in preventing depressive, anxious, or other maladaptive thoughts and tendencies.

Research has also shown that exercise and movement stimulates the release of endorphins, or natural chemicals, specifically norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Endorphins can be thought of as our body’s homemade painkillers. Their release is triggered when the body endures pain or stress (like in a high intensity workout) and they serve to make things a little less uncomfortable. On top of that, they are linked to a feeling of euphoria, which is sometimes called a ‘runner’s high’ by those that experience it after a run. The chemicals boost our energy and elevate our moods. However, recent evidence has shown that these endorphins might not be released in the brain, but solely in the blood. So why does exercise make us feel happy? Why is it that those people that exercise are at a lower risk for depression and anxiety? One compelling hypothesis explains that by getting our body moving, we are exposing it to stressful experiences, and therefore we will be more prepared to respond to stress in our daily lives. Depression and anxiety can be prevented by using exercise as a way to enhance our coping methods. Another factor could be the chemical released in the brain of an exerciser called anandamide. This neurotransmitter is an essential ingredient in improved memory and learning. The name itself is derived from a word that means joy or bliss.

Science also tells us that movement is linked to improved memory skills, academic performance, social skills, and classroom behavior. One longitudinal study conducted in Quebec found that children who were exposed to regular exercise had significantly higher scores on tests despite a 13% reduction in teaching time to account for the fitness tasks. Based on a study from the University of Michigan, children who were the most physically active were also found to be the highest scorers in leadership skills and empathy compared to those who were less active. The various neurobiological benefits of exercise clearly contribute to more outward and observable factors such as improved social skills, increased attention, enhanced memory, and more.

This is not to say that those people who do not exercise are bound to have poor memory, be depressed, or get bad grades, but it is scientifically proven that getting your body moving can work towards preventing these things. Along with the physical benefits of fitness, it’s hard to deny how incredible movement is for the body, including the brain and all it controls.

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