John J. Ratey, MD - The Diigo Meta page

• 09 Jun 13
  

  Jane Pyrgos

  exercise and the brain re learning

• 01 Mar 13
  

  Alex Israelson

  This website goes with the book Spark that shows why physical education is so important. It shows a direct effect on academic achievement and physical fitness.

  Spark

• 20 Oct 10
  

  Carolyn Drblik

  Mind & Body

• 17 Oct 10
  

  edu ecu

  health learning research exercise brain

• 25 Jan 10
  

  Jon Krantz

  brainresearch

• 02 Oct 09
  

  Meghan McGrath

  wellness brain spark

• 02 Aug 08
  

  for:andrewegardner PE exercise learning

• 02 Jul 08
  

  paul allitor
  • how little knowledge we have when it comes to the business of trying to change our brains. But we’ve learned a lot about the brain in the last few years, and the heartening thing is that it all comes back to what our grandmothers told us: eat your vegetables, get eight hours of sleep, play, work hard, have fun, and love your family and friends.
  • stelli notes that a single 10-minute bout of physical activity in an academic setting boosts attention and problem-solving skills in kids. A study published online earlier this month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that mental health benefits were observed after 20 minutes of physical activity, though the more exercise and higher intensity, the better the effects. Which means that doing the recommended 30 minutes a day of aerobic activity will cover your brain as well as your heart.

  • John's Comments

      

    Since Spark was published there have been a number of new studies that support the fact that exercise improves cognition in school children. Most recently a study from the CDC shows that especially in girls those that had the most physical activity per week consistently scored higher on tests with the greatest impact on math scores.
  • eems that along with the obvious positive  effects on the body,  taking up exercise improves the cognitive function in people over 55 years of age, regardless of whether or not they show  signs of cognitive impairment.
  • park: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain," which will be published later this year, shows how even regular brisk walks can boost memory, alleviate stress, enhance intelligence and allay aggression. John Ratey, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the book's author, says that exercise stimulates our gray matter to produce what he calls "Miracle-Gro" for the brain. "I can't understate how important regular exercise is in improving the function and performance of the brain," he says. "It's such a wonderful medicine."
  • Aggression  
     A few rounds with a punching bag or a game of squash are great ways to release pent-up aggression, but exercise does more than "get it out your system," says John Ratey. "People assume exercise reduces aggression by burning energy. In fact, exercise changes your brain so you don't feel aggressive in the first place."
  • The frontal cortex is the part of the brain that decides whether you throw a punch or take something on the chin. Reduced activity in the region, a trauma or abnormal development can result in an inability to control violent urges. "This area makes us evaluate the consequences of our actions," Ratey says. "It's the part of the brain that puts the brakes on when the ref makes a terrible decision and you want to beat him up." Exercise increases activity in that area, boosting rational thought, which makesus less likely to lash out.

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