In the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and The Brain by Dr. John J. Ratey, MD (2008), Ratey discuses how exercise can help treat many mood disorders and how it can help strengthen our brains. This book is divided into ten chapters all with five to ten subsections in them. The chapters include: Welcome to the revolution: A Case Study on Exercise and the brain, Learning, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Attention Deficit, Addiction, Hormonal Changers, Aging, and the Regimen. The book begins by explaining how important exercise and being active is to our health and well-being. The author then transitions into a story about Naperville Central High School. This high school was in the forefront of a revolutionary new concept that involved vigorous exercise of its students instead of a traditional gym class. This new approach stimulated new research on the brain, and the effects of exercise on the well being of our body and minds. After the introduction of the new fitness programs, the school’s students showed drastic increases in standardized tests, and on normal tests as well. Learning is one of the things that help us survive. Darwin taught us that learning is the survival mechanism that we use to survive in our ever-changing environments. Our brains are designed to learn. They are plastic, meaning they can adapt, change and grow. In our brains there are neurotransmitters, and neurotrophins. They both have a role in turning different circuits on off, and getting different signals to different parts of our bodies. Some neurotrophins are called factory, and one of those is BDNF, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This chemical has been called, fertilizer for neurons. Exercise has been shown to increase BDNF leve... ... middle of paper ... ...rstand. Overall this was a great book. I have a great deal of interest in the brain. It is a truly amazing and fascinating organ. Its complexity bewilders not only researchers, and many neuroscientists but me as well. I also have somewhat of a passion for fitness and to learn how beneficial exercise can be, not only to our body’s health but the brain as well. It gives me a new understanding about a “workout”. The author did a great job explaining all of the very complicated processes that are involved in exercise’s wondrous benefits. Even though some of the information may have been boring, the way it was presented was not. This book was a great read and overall I would recommend it to any interested in exercise or the brain. Works Cited Ratey, John J. (2008). Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company.
William James was conceivably the initial pioneer in addressing the topic of brain plasticity from a contemporary viewpoint, as he showed an association between the
A study conducted by Dimeo et al (2001), which evaluated the short-term effects of a training programme on patients with moderate to severe major depression, where twelve patients, with a mean age of 49, five men, seven women, with a major depressive episode according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Society of Psychiatry criteria participated. The mean duration of their depressive episodes were 35 weeks (range12–96). Training consisted of walking on a treadmill following an interval training pattern and was carried out for 30 minutes a day for 10 days. At the end of the training programme, there was a clinically relevant and statistically significant reduction in depression scores (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: before, 19.5 (3.3); after, 13 (5.5); p = 0.002. Self-assessed intensity of symptoms: before, 23.2 (7); after, 17.7 (8.1); p = 0.006. Values are mean (SD)). Subjective and objective changes in depression scores correlated strongly (r = 0.66, p = 0.01). Proving even within the short time of 10 days, aerobic exercise can produce substantial improvement in mood in patients with depressive disorders. (Dimeo et al,
Some hypothesize that moderate levels of exercise will decrease the symptoms of mental health conditions (Blumenthal et al., 2007; Diaz & Motta, 2008; Motta, Kuligowski, & Marino, 2010; Rosenbaum, Nguyen, Lenehan, Tiedemann, van der Ploeg, & Sherrington, 2011) and therefore be used as an alternative or complimentary treatment option for mental health (Libby, Pilver, & Desai, 2012).
Physical activity improves the health of our brains by easing risk factors for mental health issues: diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, and inflammation. As blood flow is increased, nutrition is delivered more effectively and energy is gained. A lack of physical activity intensifies depression, such that simply getting more active is a natural anti-depressant – a recommendation I make regularly to patients that are depressed. Much the same with anxiety, which is eased by more intensive physical activity. Stress is an inherent part of the demands of exercise, but in healthy ways.
In a society in which childhood obesity rates are on the rise, physical education is an important aspect of student's health that needs to be incorporated into their daily lives. Along with the physical benefits, by participating in physical education and regular physical activity (whether it be extra-curricular, at recess, or in the regular classroom), student's academic performance is greatly improved. According to Eric Jensen in Teaching with the Brain in Mind, the "evidence...shows that moderate exercise enhances cognitive processing" (Jensen,
With childhood obesity becoming an epidemic in America, we need methods to help stop obesity in children such as physical activities. Physical activities are not only to help prevent obesity; it can also help students improve on their academics. “Physical education helps the brain function; exercise increases the blood flow within the body and increases the blood volume in regions of the brain associated with memory formation” (Kovar, Susan K at el. Elementary Classroom Teachers as Movement Educators. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print.). Children spend many hours of their week inside a classroom, there are activities and lessons teachers can do to help their students become more active. “Physical education and movement are important to start at a young age because children are very active and child obesity is a huge problem these days” (Gaither, Laura, personal interview. October 7, 2013). Having movement and physical activity in the classroom is crucial to elementary school children as it is shown to have a positive effect on their overall life quality. “We know that physical activity is critical…not just for better health but for better academic performance” (Michelle Obama).
When your exercising, do you think your brain is getting better? Well it actually does, you exercising benefits the brain that has a positive benefits to person’s brain. What are the Positive Benefits that Exercise has on a person’s brain, well, exercising can help spur the brain, it boosts brain hormones, fights depression and anxiety, and it reduces the effects of stress.
“ Prevention is better than cure.” This statement holds true when it comes to the relationship between exercise and the brain. Working your brain may
The human brain is a “thinking organ that learns and grows by interacting with the world through perception and action” (Russo-Neustadt, Beard, & Cotman, 2000, p.305). It is believed that physical exercise improves the brain’s function and protects against cognitive decline. Studies on exe...
Nelson Mandela once said, “Exercise is the key not only to physical health, but to a peace of mind.” Without some kind of athletics, the human mind will not be able to achieve its full potential. Physical activities are a vital component in the lives of any living person. Laurence Jordan said, “It is necessary that physical training should be made part of any education” (599). Along with the exercise most athletes perform on a weekly basis, they also continue to do school work.
Some people believe that by doing sports you can stay in a good shape and a healthy brain. Sports had become a big part of our society. After having done some research on sports, I believe that they help your brain, it can help to boost up your memory and productivity.
Kotz, D. (2010). Exercise your body and brain. U.S. News & World Report, 147(7), 36.
Several researches have revealed that physical exercise has relieved many people from symptoms of anxiety and depression. During physical activity and exercise, the body produces a type of chemical called “serotonin”, a chemical that aids while dealing with anxiety, stress and depression. Studies also have shown that people who participate in sports results in higher self- esteem and a more positive self- image. Many studies made conclusions that adolescents and students who take part in sports and physical activities tend to have positive and higher self esteem than students who do not play sports and often tend to result better in academic performances at school.
Opponents of physical education in schools state that gym is not the best way to utilize students’ time. Students’ should be given the choice to participate in gym class or not because many students aren’t as athletic and don’t enjoy it enough to want to do it in school. Despite this downfall, PE is important in students’ life and even though some don’t enjoy it as much, they need it in order to be successful in life. If not, diseases and health risks could come up and it wouldn’t be robust. Ultimately, physical education provides superior benefits.
Chemically, the “ benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors—chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells” (Godman). This process, known as neurogenesis, counters the primary ramifications of aging on the brain, and helps with mental clarity, decision making skills, and organization. In the long run, this continuous growth of new blood vessels and the survival of new brain cells aid