Researchers have known for decades that aerobic exercise and training is good for the human brain. In a breakthrough discovery, scientists have discovered a specific molecule called irisin that is produced in the brain during exercise through a chain reaction. Irisin is believed to have neuroprotective effects.
The more you move, the more energized you will feel. Regular physical activity improves your muscle strength and boosts your endurance, giving you the energy you need to think clearer and come up with new ideas. A good 15 minutes of moving around, even just around your living room, makes your body produce more energy on a cellular level.
Dr. John Ratey, author of “Spark – The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” says that exercise improves your brain in the short term by raising your focus for two to three hours afterwards. If you have a presentation or speaking engagement, try to work out beforehand; you’ll be at your peak when you have to perform.
Exercise helps trigger endorphins, which improve the prioritizing functions of the brain. After exercise, your ability to sort out priorities improves, allowing you to block out distractions and better concentrate on the task at hand.
Your brain remembers more when your body is active. In an experiment published in the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, students were asked to memorize a string of letters, and were then allowed to run, lift weights, or sit quietly. The students who ran were quicker and more accurate when tested compared to students who chose the other two options.
SOURCES:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2012/05/08/6-ways-exercise-makes-you-smarter/#358110877109
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201212/the-brain-drain-inactivity
By Akvile Varnelyt