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According to a new study, vigorous activities such as running and swimming can help improve your brain’s functioning.
Apart from producing physical benefits, workout sessions also have a huge impact on your brain’s functioning. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Intense workout sessions are one of the stepping stones towards a healthy life. Regular exercise over a set period can help improve your physical appearance significantly. Apart from producing physical benefits, workout sessions also have a huge impact on your brain’s functioning. Researchers from UC Santa Barbara recently confirmed in a study that intense workouts enhance cognitive abilities in the human body. Their study, “A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis provide evidence for an effect of acute physical activity on cognition in young adults,” was also published in Communications Psychology.
Barry Giesbrecht, a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and senior author of the study discussed the findings of his team’s research. “One of the most consistent findings in the literature is that exercise interventions – something like a program that you would engage in, say, three times a week over several months or years – improve cognition and can even promote neurogenesis (the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain),” he said, as per UC Santa Barbara’s official website.
Speaking further about the research’s findings, Professor Barry Giesbrecht claimed that intense activities provided the best results. “We found that vigorous activities had the largest effects,” he said. “Also, the effects were strongest for studies that tested cognition after exercise, as opposed to during exercise,” the professor added. “And lastly, the effects of exercise less than 30 minutes in duration were bigger than those that went beyond 30 minutes. Our work showed the strongest evidence for a positive effect of single bouts of exercise on cognition and that this evidence was impacted by a variety of factors,” he concluded.
Which exercises you should consider for improved cognitive function?
Cycling
A vigorous exercise like cycling has a positive impact on cognitive function. It increases the blood flow to the brain while promoting the growth of new brain cells. It also enhances the production of neuroprotective proteins.
Hiking
Activities like hiking can also significantly improve cognitive function by enhancing attention, memory and problem-solving skills. It reduces stress while providing you with better overall mental clarity.
Running
Simple activities like running can also improve focus which further helps in better decision-making. Running also stimulates the growth of new brain cells, potentially helping prevent cognitive decline associated with ageing.
