Brain boost: Even moderate exercise increases ability to think

By Marco Buscaglia, Tribune Content Agency
Published in the Chicago Tribune, January 3, 2021

Does it feel like your brain is turning to oatmeal? Maybe you need to add a little activity to your life. Working from home often makes our sedentary habits even worse. No morning walk to the train, no mindless wandering around the office. We sit glued to our chairs, moving from one project to the next. 

A recent study, published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Scientists,” indicated that after even as little as 10 minutes of exercise, test subjects showed increased memory and problem-solving skills. After 10 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike, study participants were able to complete a computerized memory test at a higher rate than those who hadn't exercise beforehand. People who rode the bike were better at remembering a series of images they were shown immediately afterward, especially when these images closely resembled other images and became more difficult to identify. Scientists at the University of California Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, claimed that people don’t need works of working out to experience an increase in memory and mental prowess. Instead, they claim even small amounts of exercise can improve the functionality of people's brains almost immediately. Additionally, the exertion required can be slight, meaning that even people who are out of shape or disabled can benefit from brief moments of activity. 

So the next time your brain feels a bit cloudy, step away from the computer, take a brisk walk around the block, do a few push-ups and sit-ups and head back to your chair. You may find that your brain is no longer fighting you as you try to get your work finished.