“Bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but godliness is beneficial for all things, holding promise for this life and for the life to come.” – (Korean Version) 1 Timothy 4:8
Humans are moving beings. Because movement is a major function of the nervous system, the brain cannot think without motor function. Exercise regulates neurotransmitters. After exercising, you feel better, happier, and more focused. This is because dopamine is a hormone that increases motivation and competitiveness. Studies have shown that regular exercise increases the amount of dopamine stored in the brain and creates an enzyme that creates dopamine receptors in the brain’s reward center.
Exercise increases serotonin levels. Exercise secretes serotonin, which plays an important role in mood, self-esteem, and impulse suppression. Serotonin acts in opposition to cortisol and reduces stress. It also promotes cellular connections between the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus and plays a very important role in learning.
Nerve cell growth factors produced through exercise are good for brain development and also prevent brain damage caused by chronic stress. Exercise also increases learning ability and increases the flexibility of cognitive functions. ©pxhere
Exercise produces nerve cell growth factor (BDNF). Exercise produces fibroblast growth factors and vascular endothelial cell growth factors, which help create new capillaries in the brain and expand blood vessel passages. As the number and size of blood vessels increase, the efficiency of blood flow naturally increases. Aerobic exercise also increases the production of nerve cell growth factors. The growth factors produced through exercise are good for brain development and also prevent brain damage caused by chronic stress. It activates the cell’s repair mechanism and at the same time regulates the level of cortisol and increases the level of neurotransmitters.
Exercise affects metabolism and has a huge impact not only on synapse function, but also on thoughts and emotions. Ultimately, the brain’s job is to transmit information from one synapse to another. The process requires energy. However, because exercise affects metabolism, it has a huge impact not only on the function of synapses but also on thoughts and emotions. It also increases the production of nerve cell growth factors, which are present in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and learning, and have been shown to be essential elements in the memory and learning process.
Exercise improves learning ability in three ways. Nerve cell growth factors produced through exercise are good for brain development and also prevent brain damage caused by chronic stress. It also activates the cellular repair mechanism while also regulating the level of cortisol and increasing the levels of regulatory neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Regular exercise is effective in preventing not only depression but also dementia. Exercise activates brain metabolism and smoothly supplies blood to the brain, preventing abnormal destruction of brain cells. ©freerangestock
Exercise also increases flexibility in cognitive function. And it immediately improves the function of the prefrontal cortex. Even just one exercise is enough to improve peak cognitive function. This fact was revealed in 2003 when German neuroscientists tested 24 patients who were taking antidepressants but whose symptoms did not improve, with 10 comparison groups. Typically, just running once can improve your cognitive abilities and flexibility. However, knowledge cannot be acquired during intense exercise. This is because blood drains from the prefrontal cortex to be used for movement, slowing down our best cognitive functions.
Regular exercise is effective in preventing not only depression but also dementia. Dementia is a geriatric mental illness in which brain cells are destroyed abnormally quickly, causing changes in cognitive ability, emotions, and personality. Alzheimer’s dementia and vascular dementia account for 80-90% of all dementias. The best way to prevent abnormal destruction of brain cells is to activate brain metabolism and provide a smooth supply of blood to the brain. However, exercise has the effect of slowing down the death rate of brain cells and improving cognitive function by improving cerebral blood flow.
On the other hand, regular exercise is the best way to help blood circulation in the brain and properly supply nutrients and oxygen. So, as you get older, regular exercise is an essential way to maintain mental health. It is commonly thought that playing baduk, playing Hwatu, or memorizing games can be of some help to mental activities, but they are less effective than regular exercise because they actually interfere with physical exercise.
Dr. Maenam Son
Director of Korea Counseling Development Institute
Director of Kyonggi University Brain and Psychological Counseling Research Center
International President, Cohen University, USA
President of the International Brain Healing Counseling Association
#Brain Healing Counseling #Exercise #Dr. Son Mae-nam
2023-10-21 11:43:41
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