Quartz – Wendy A. Suzuki
“…my favorite neuroscience-based motivation for exercise relates to its effects on the hippocampus—a key brain structure that’s critical for long-term memory…Exercise encourages the long-term growth of hippocampal cells by immediately increasing levels of a key growth factor in the hippocampus…Just consider how the educational system might be altered if we acknowledge exercise’s ability to brighten our mood, decrease stress, and improve our attention span and memory. The growing evidence that exercise improves these key brain functions should encourage schools around the world to increase—not decrease—students’ physical activity. Not only would this help students to better absorb everything from history lessons to chemistry experiments, they’d be a lot happier too…neuroscience gives us a framework to understand exercise as a tool for better education, increased productivity in the workforce and combating cognitive decline.”(more)