If one wants to improve their brain development and alertness exercise is the best and effective method to do so. New research shows that exercise may engage your mind for a long period.
Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University studied whether exercise causes physical changes in the brain or not.
They had chosen monkeys for their research because they wanted a clean brain without environmental factors such as alcohol, smoking, or obesity to hamper their research. They took three groups of 20 monkeys each.
The first group exercised on a treadmill for 5 days a week for 20 weeks. The second group did not exercise at all. The third group exercised for the same period and then became sedentary. Then researchers measured the volume of small blood vessels in the brain of each group. They found that the monkeys who indulge in exercise were more alert than those in the control group.
During one training session, monkeys who exercised learned how to take a performance test much better and quicker than those that did not exercise.
When you exercise, your body releases a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. This chemical is responsible for regulating your mood and making you feel alert and focused. Not to mention, it also helps you fight fatigue. In short, exercising improves your overall cognitive function. In a study published in 2014 in the Journal of Psychological Science, researchers from the University of Georgia found that those who exercised at least once a week had better cognitive function than those who didn’t. Another study from the University of Georgia found that those who exercised regularly had a longer attention span. The study also found that people who exercised had better memory and a higher IQ than those who didn’t.
So it is advised to start exercising daily, start from 5 to 10 minutes daily it will automatically increase day by day you don't need to put any extra effort. After a few weeks, it will surely become your habit.