Brain Training & Exercise: Unexpected Effects

As we have been told many times over, exercise provides us with vast benefits to our health. Consistent exercise has not only physical benefits, but cognitive and mental health benefits as well. In a recent study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, researchers studied the combined effect of physical exercise and cognitive brain training for working memory and processing.  The research found that the combined effect of exercise and brain training, provided healthy, young adults with lasting benefits for the brain.
 
Brain training has gained momentum over recent years as a way to improve the brain’s “plasticity”.  Games and apps have been developed in order to “train” and “exercise” our brains, focusing on working memory, processing skills, logic, as well as verbal skills. These activities focus on “working out” our brains, as we work out other muscles in our bodies.  This study from the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, is important because it shows the importance of not only physical exercise, but mental exercise as well and how they benefit from each other. Exercising both our bodies and our minds increases our overall health and provides the best boost to our memories and working minds.
 
To read more check out the article in the New York Times, Exercise May Enhance the Effects of Brain Training by Gretchen Reynolds.  

- Therapy West Staff