Running makes your brain grow ...

Support | Event Directors & Organizers

Search Cool Running Community

Browse Cool Running

CoolRunning.com > Cool Running Community > Basic Training >

Up to Threads in Basic Training

13 Replies Last post: Oct 2, 2007 7:06 PM by nj joe

brianfie

316 posts since
Apr 6, 2001

Sep 29, 2007 6:52 AM

Running makes your brain grow

Obviously some of us urgently need to run more miles

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-brain.html?[/URL" target="_blank">

d3finition

96 posts since
Jan 7, 2006

1. Sep 29, 2007 10:28 AM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

Wow if this is true, time to jack up the miles haha.

JamesE054

13 posts since
Feb 5, 2003

2. Sep 29, 2007 10:32 AM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

It also seems to make some people's head grow

Nobby063

629 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

3. Sep 29, 2007 12:15 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

quote:<HR>Originally posted by brianfie:
Obviously some of us urgently need to run more miles

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-brain.html?[/URL" target="_blank"><HR>

I don't believe this one. If it's true, how can we explain all the miles I've run and how smart (or not smart) I am! ;o)

Interestingly, though, way back even in the 1960s, Arthur Lydiard claimed aerobic running would have positive affect on academic development. He claimed, without any scientific reserach done, that middle aged business people who started jogging improved their gold scores, young kids who started running program based on aerobic development gained better grades at school, etc. Of course, this is because of more oxygen going to your brain and/or achieving "tireless state" so that they can concentrate better and longer. Other things like better grades are side-effect of aerobic development.

DavidD063

361 posts since
Jan 25, 2007

4. Sep 29, 2007 1:12 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

This is old information, but it's been getting more attention lately. It's because of oxygen uptake, hormone changes and especially the other end of the nerves that innervate the aerobic muscle fibers (which are the majority in all runners) -- these go to an area of the brain called the motor cortex which then brings in more blood flow. Since the brain is 60% fat, there's a potential for improving fat-burning (which is what aerobic training is all about) and helping brain fats.

brianfie

316 posts since
Apr 6, 2001

5. Sep 29, 2007 4:52 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

quote:<HR>Originally posted by DavidD:
Since the brain is 60% fat, there's a potential for improving fat-burning .... and helping brain fats. <HR>

Should that have been brain '*****'?

Just wondering.....

lolly75

88 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

6. Sep 29, 2007 6:27 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

I find this type of research interesting. Is it really the more you exercise the smarter you become? Or do people who are smarter exercise more?

Kind of like the research that children that listen to classical music are smarter then those who don't?? Or is it that smarter parents are more inclined to play classical music to their children, therefore the true variable may be that smarter parents have smarter children?

mcsolar99

1,018 posts since
Aug 14, 2007

7. Sep 29, 2007 9:31 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

don't know about the rest of you, but after a hard interval session or a long run i'm pretty dang stoopid...

dmichaelp

90 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

8. Oct 1, 2007 10:53 AM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

Please find me an article that says beer makes you smarter.

BarelyMoving

27 posts since
Sep 27, 2007

9. Oct 1, 2007 11:31 AM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

Thats explains why I am gaining weight

Jim Sullivan032

512 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

10. Oct 1, 2007 12:34 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

quote:<HR>Originally posted by dmichaelp:
Please find me an article that says beer makes you smarter.<HR>

There are lots of them, but I keep forgetting where I read them.

Julie478

169 posts since
Aug 8, 2007

11. Oct 1, 2007 3:27 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

So, the fine line between genius and insanity is blurred further.

------------------
"Only those who risk going too
far can possibly find out how far
one can go." - T.S. Eliot

brianfie

316 posts since
Apr 6, 2001

12. Oct 1, 2007 3:36 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

quote:<HR>Originally posted by JulieH478:
So, the fine line between genius and insanity is blurred further.
<HR>

Yeah, Like: "I was a genius 'til my brain grew during that last set of mile repeats. Now I keep wanting to run them backwards!"

-b

nj joe

117 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

13. Oct 2, 2007 7:06 PM

in response to: brianfie

Re: Running makes your brain grow

can't always believe the NY Times anyway

Go to original post

Sep 29, 2007 6:52 AM

Running makes your brain grow

Actions

More Like This

New Runners

Training

Competition

Age Groups

Fitness

The Lighter Side

Feedback

Related Links