Exercise Brain Growth (video)

Maximize Learning at School or Work!

Watch this video showing how exercise grows new brain cells.  See how exercise improves our mood, vigor, and productivity while it decreases tension, depression, aggression, and fatigue.  Exercise increases our capacity to learn by increasing attention, motivation and memory. At the cellular level it increases neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, nor-epinephrin) and neurotrophins like BDNF (Miracle-Gro for the brain) which helps brain cells wire together needed to learn.  Exercise increases vascular flow providing more oxygen and glucose to the brain while helping remove cellular breakdown products.

Dr. John Ratey, clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, author of SPARK answers many questions (e.g., how much to exercise, what kind of exercise works best, why obesity slows learning, how to slow cognitive decline, how the heart influences brain function, and much more).

Stronger, Faster, Smarter (Video)

Physical exercise boosts brainpower for students and the elderly

Mary Carmichael’s article in Newsweek cites research showing how aerobic exercise increases Nerve Growth Factors, such as BDNF, Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor, called Miracle Gro for the brain by Dr. John Ratey in his book, SPARK, The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

Understand why we need Daily Physical Education in our schools, and why all people throughout life, especially the elderly need daily exercise to maintain their mental sharpness.

Kudos to scientists William Greenough, Charles Hillman, Arthur Kramer, and physical educators performing a short Genetic Expression -- BDNF movement routine, all from Illinois, involved with moving this science forward!

Train Your Brain with Exercise

Make yourself smarter with aerobic workouts

Jean Lawrence writing for WebMD summarizes current research showing how exercise combats ADHD naturally, calms hyperactivity, grows new brain cells with added BDNF, releases pleasure chemicals key to memory and motivation, and helps remedy depression, fatigue and stress. Dr. John Ratey is quoted, “Exercise is really for the brain, not the body.” No wonder daily physical education in school is key to maximizing learning potential.

Super Charge Your Brain

Speed up brain impulses through repetitive body movements

Get wired! Become your own electrician laying down new elaborate body brain networks that connect sensory and motor neurons responsible for learning. Expand your neural networks and speed their electrical transmission through physical activities (e.g. talking, writing, drawing, dancing, socializing, playing musical instruments, acting, playing, engaging in sports, etc). All neural networks created through such movements are part of the circuitry regulating mood, boosting attention, heightening motivation, building academic performance skills, and extending memory.

Repetitive movements increase cellular voltage as positive and negative ions surge back and forth between communicating neurons. When the energy threshold is high enough to stimulate genetic expression, genes and chromosomes within the neuron’s cell body nucleus produce new molecules that boost cellular function. One master molecule created is BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, referred to as Miracle-Gro for the brain by Dr. John Ratey in his book SPARK, The New Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain.

BDNF along with other Nerve Growth Factors grow new neurons, help extend neural networks and increase speed of transmission. Exercise produces and pumps more BDNF throughout the body brain to maximize growth. If you want to wire up… then fire up with exercise. You’ll have less mental static and faster neurons in your mental attic needed to excel! Insist on daily Physical Education focused on fitness to super charge your brain!

Maximize Learning -- Physically!

Improve learning by engaging your body more often

What if schools and workplaces adopted practices shown by neuroscience to improve attention, focus, motivation, learning and memory -- helping all people maximize their living and learning potential? What immediate changes would take place?

The most noticeable change would be much more movement and exercise throughout the day. Increased blood flow carrying oxygen and an assortment of body-brain enhancing chemicals (dopamine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, BDNF, serotonin, etc.) would heighten physical, mental, social and emotional states shown to enhance learning.

So why do we sit on our duffs? Why is recess and physical education on the chopping block when our goal is to excel and meet the highest learning standards?

Exercise Brain Growth

Move Your Feet -- Grow New Neurons in Your Hippocampus

Brenda Patoine’s article on the DANA.org website cites research suggesting neurogenesis (new brain cell growth) resulting from exercise (e.g. hour a day, four times a week). MRI scans show growth takes place in the dentate gyrus within the hippocampus, an essential part of our memory system. The research suggests that exercise helps protect your brain throughout your lifetime. BDNF, is a major nerve growth factor involved in new brain cell growth and connectivity according to Carl Cotman, neurobiologist at the University of California, Irvine.

Moderate Exercise Is Defined

Strive for 100 steps per minute, 30 minutes a day walking

Many body brain benefits derived from exercise are dependent on the intensity of the workout. 30 Minutes of moderate exercise, 5 days of week is often suggested by organizations, such as the AHA, American Heart Association.

BBC News posted an article showing the research at San Diego State University. Using a pedometer is helpful, however it fails to measure the intensity of exercise shown to release important body brain enhancing hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters and nerve growth factors essential to optimized function.

Exercise Improves the Brain

How your inner athlete makes you smarter


Robert Nixon writing for Live Science has a fine article showing how aerobic exercise improves the brain creating new brain cells and improving the cellular connections. Carl Cotman explains how nerve growth factors come into play.

Exercise a Happy New You!

2009 is the Time to Create a Happy New You!

Imagine -- you are continually revising your molecular self. Sounds strange. New experiences can create new neural networks and communicating neurochemicals that change the way your body brain thinks, feels and responds... for better or worse.

I am so excited. New research reports that Nerve Growth Factors (BDNF, VEGF, IGF-1, etc.) are produced through exercise. Our Body Brain Boogie Blog will report this research, explaining how you and others can enhance your living and learning potential through physical activity. Be sure to send questions. ideas, articles and links to move our search forward. 2009 is the time.

Thanks for being a vital part of this exciting exploration!

Jeff Haebig
Wellness Quest

Grow New Brain Cells with Exercise

Stuff Your Brain Likes... suggests you exercise often

Compelling research shows how regular exercise releases Nerve Growth Factors, like BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) the brain's Miracle Gro. http://braingamessoftware.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/are-you-smarter-because-you-exercise-regularly/

Visit http://braingamessoftware.wordpress.com/ Stuff Your Brain Likes blog regularly to explore current brain research. This blog site is excellent! Be sure to add it to your favorites. Above all, move on this -- get hip! Grow your hippocampus brain cells connected to memory with exercise.

Jeff