If the positive impact of sport on your body is well established, what are its effects on the health of your brain?
The brain.
The brain is the main organ of your nervous system. It is divided into 2 hemispheres: the right and the left. These two parts control all mental functions such as voluntary movements, thoughts, learning abilities and memory. Each hemisphere is made up of 4 lobes with very specific functions: – the frontal lobe: it allows you to control your movements, your language, your consciousness as well as problem solving and planning. – the parietal lobe: it is responsible for cognitive functions linked to language (writing, reading and speaking) as well as the calculation and processing of sensory information. – the occipital lobe: this part of the brain manages your visual system. It is he who allows you to recognize shapes, colors and other visual signs. – the temporal lobe: this lobe is responsible for understanding language (the meaning of words) and memory, rather visual for the right hemisphere and verbal for the left.
How is sport good for your brain?
The practice of physical activities has protective effects on the brain, and even therapeutic effects with regard to certain mental pathologies.
1. Exercise lowers your stress levels.
Sport helps reduce your stress levels. But how can a tiring and literally stressful activity for your body achieve this result? It's all linked to your body's production of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone produced from cholesterol. It is more commonly called the stress hormone. Additionally, in the long term, cortisol reduces neurons in memory areas. However, practicing physical activity helps reduce the level of cortisol in your blood, therefore also reducing your levels of psychological stress.
2. Sport promotes your well-being.
Several neurotransmitters play a role in the feeling of well-being. First, dopamine. This neurotransmitter directly influences your behavior. During physical activity, dopamine production increases. This is why “moving makes you want to move even more” and therefore to surpass yourself. Other neurotransmitters act in this direction: tryptophan and serotonin. Tryptophan is released in the brain and is used to produce serotonin, which plays an important role in processing your emotions and works against depression. Medicine even uses these elements in certain antidepressant drugs which function to increase the level of serotonin in the brain. When you practice physical activity, the level of tryptophan released in your brain increases, and the level of serotonin naturally follows, causing a summer of mental well-being.
3. Exercise improves your blood flow.
When you exercise, your blood flow increases, which improves the oxygenation of neurons and allows a good supply of energy to your brain. This phenomenon strengthens your cognitive performance, particularly your learning and concentration abilities.
In summary.
Exercising has many benefits for your brain. It literally helps you relax and make you feel better. So what are you waiting for?
