Are you at a creative dead end? Stand up and walk at your own pace. Just a few minutes of walking a day is enough to boost your creativity. This is evident from new research published in the scientific journal Discover Psychology.
Neuroscientist Chong Chen, of Yamaguchi University in Japan, and author of the study, analyzed 24 experiments from 21 previous studies that looked for a link between exercise and brain activity. He finds that short, moderate exercise helps to stimulate creative thinking. What is short? The findings show that just three to four minutes of walking at your own pace can provide new insights. You might come up with your best idea ever when you walk to the tram, train or bus stop…
It is not exactly known which mechanisms ensure that physical activity influences creative thinking. It is possible that a little exercise can already bring about structural changes in the brain. Previous research suggests that exercise temporarily improves blood flow to the brain. Your brain receives more oxygen and nutrients, which improves cognitive functioning. The prefrontal cortex, an important area for creative thinking, benefits greatly from this increased blood flow.
Exercise also releases the neurotransmitter dopamine (the happiness hormone) in various zones of our brain: the striatum, the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. According to scientists, the release may be linked to creative thinking. Chen writes that more research is needed in the future to better and correctly understand the influence of exercise on creativity.
