Let's Get Physical?

If you're at all health conscious, you've probably been to a gym at least once. Sure, you may have tried the elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill, stair master and maybe even the weight room, but did you remember to exercise the most important organ in your body?

Your buns aren't the only thing that need a little work every once in awhile; the brain should also be exercised regularly. While it's true that we use our brains constantly, consciously focusing on using it in a certain way can yield extremely beneficial results [though it likely won't make your head any larger...in the literal sense, anyway].

Cognitive Critique, a fellow neuroscience blog, recently posted a list of three brain exercises anyone can do anywhere and at any time. No gym necessary! The exercises, titled "Lazy Eights," "Cross Crawl" and "Positive Points," involve the integration of hand motions with conscious focus and last only a few minutes each. The list can be found here.

Alright, so I'll be the first to admit it sounds a little silly. However, with regular practice, these exercises may increase your attention span and improve your cognitive ability. So put on that spandex onesie [or not] and get to work; your brain will be spring break-ready in no time!

Nama-say whaaa?

Down dog, chaturanga, up dog, vinyasa. Oh, excuse me, I was just practicing a little Ashtanga (and increasing my thalamic GABA levels).

If this sounds to you like a pickup line from some foreign film noir, you're not alone. Au contraire, mon ami (French for "on the contrary, my friend"), all of the above (excluding GABA, which is a neurotransmitter associated with increased positive affect and decreased anxiety) are actually postures routinely practiced in the age old exercise of yoga.

The physical benefits of yoga are prolific and well-known--increased flexibility, improved circulation and decreased muscle tension to name a few--however, its neuronal benefits have, up until now, been relatively unexplored.

A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine last week documented a significant increase in mood and decrease in anxiety when comparing two experimental groups of people: one that practiced an hour of yoga three times a week and another that did one hour of metabolically comparable walking exercises three times a week (this was all done over a twelve week period). Marked improvements, confirmed by self-reports and quantitative measurements of GABA levels in the brain immediately after each session, were observed in the yoga-practicing group.

Though exercise is inherently associated with an increase in positive affect and decrease in anxiety, comparing two events that involve equal increases in metabolic activity controls for any confounding factors. Thus, more credibility can be attributed to the notion that practicing yoga is the cause of these improvements.

Take a deep breath; you don't have to practice two hours of hot yoga a day to reap its brainy benefits (not to mention the amount of laundry you'd accrue doing that). Just keep in mind that it's never too late to try out a class at your local gym, buy a DVD or even use videos online to learn (Hulu has some great ones).

Click here to read more. Namaste!

WHAT A HIT!

"At the 32 on third down and 6...Kolb in trouble, gets rid of it....OOOHHH! BIG HIT ON DeSEAN JACKSON!"

One of the hottest topics bridging sports and neuroscience today is the widespread prevalence of concussions in the National Football League.

In the 6th week of NFL play (OCT 17-18), there were at least 7 documented concussions. And in a league that emphasizes toughness, who knows how many other players ignored their symptoms leaving a concussion undiagnosed? Two notable brain injuries occurred on the same play when Philadelphia Eagles' receiver DeSean Jackson and tackler Dunta Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons viscously collided while running full speed. It'll be interesting to see how recent rule changes to avoid helmet-to-helmet contact and the increased awareness of the issue affect both the game and the longevity of its players.

So what exactly is happening to the brain of each player during one of these tackles?

Below is an alarming video from Sport Science (one of my favorite shows on television!) with an explanation of the average forces experienced by the head of an NFL player during a hit.

Revenge of the...Jocks?

We've all witnessed it: that meathead football player you surreptitiously despised in high school pushing the door that says 'pull,' smashing those tiny cardboard cafeteria milk cartons against his forehead, ending his sentences with prepositions...I digress. But is there actually any truth to the long-standing stereotype that associates athleticism with stupidity?

Apparently, not anymore.

A study conducted by Laura Chaddock et al. and published by Brain Research found a positive correlation between preadolescent fitness and relational memory, which deals with visual and spatial retention. Fitness levels were measured objectively using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment to assess how efficiently children used oxygen while exercising on a treadmill.

One important aspect to note, however, is that the kids who were deemed 'fitter' than their age-related counterparts had, on average, larger (in volume) hippocampi. Considering that larger hippocampi are associated with better cognitive performance, a causal relationship between preadolescent fitness and superior relational memory skills may not be entirely accurate.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the dreams of all those pee wee football prodigies should be crushed quite yet--but it is something to consider before you start making your little brother run sprints in the backyard while simultaneously reciting his times tables.

Click here to judge for yourself.