Why Exercise Boosts Brainpower

aditi sends us a report from Reuters on research indicating that exercise boosts brainpower by building new brain cells in a brain region linked with memory and memory loss. Quoting: "Tests on mice showed they grew new brain cells in a brain region called the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus that is known to be affected in the age-related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging scans to help document the process in mice — and then used MRIs to look at the brains of people before and after exercise. They found the same patterns, which suggests that people also grow new brain cells when they exercise."

Ballonee

[MyLongNickName]

I nevar work out and my brane wurks as well as ne1 elses!

Re:Ballonee

[cayenne8]

Ok...I'm off to the gym this afternoon after work!!

Now....I gotta try to remember where the hell the gym is??

Re:Ballonee

[10Neon]

I know how you feel! I wouldn't know where my local gym was either if it wasn't next to a steak house and a KFC.

How many Geek Mice do you know?

[EmbeddedJanitor]

Cross species generalisations are the basis of most of this kind of research, mainly because lab rats are cheap and sdon't complain when you kill them and copen them up to look for changes. But how much of it is really valid?

Here's an interesting anecdote: Scientists were running rats through a maze with a reward system to measure how fast they learn. Rats soon learn the optimum path and get rewarded. COnclusion: rats are smart and learn. Now substitute in a ferret. Ferret searches maze and finds the food (

AHA!

[Poruchik]

That explains Schwartzenegger! (Doesn't explain Stallone though).

Re:AHA!

[errxn]

It also explains most of the posts on /. as well.

Next Week

[2names]

Just watch...next week they will announce that they interpreted the data in reverse.

How do I know this?

Because 99% of the really smart people I've met in my life are big, fat, dope-smoking UNIX guys who think a treadmill is a place where corn is ground up to make tires.

Re:

[x2A]

hmm, my experience is the oposite... the smarter people tend to be skinny. The fat ones are often at most very good at the one thing they sit on their ass doing all day.

Re:

[thc69]

treadmill is a place where corn is ground up to make tires.

This is so funny that it almost made me choke on my peanut butter sandwich.

Yes, that's right, I said peanut butter sandwich.

Re:Next Week

[metlin]

Really?

Funny, 99% of the really smart people I know play sports in some form or the other (adventure sports, martial arts, traditional sports, running etc) and don't really believe in sitting down and spending every waking hour doing something related to their area of expertise.

In fact, the *really* smart people I know tend to have a life (family, friends, sports, parties) and usually, it is the wannabes that I know who tend to fit the profile that you describe.

And I have found out that a combination of good workout and good diet often helps me concentrate better and sleep better.

For instance, cut yourself off from high sugar, caffeine and soda, eat salads and run 5 miles a day for a month and see how much your productivity increases. You'll find that you can do more, you sleep better and feel a lot healthier.

Besides, sports are a great way to get rid of your frustration. For instance, I do a lot of rock-climbing, and nothing to make you feel better than an eight hour straight climbing session out there.

Re:Next Week

[RockModeNick]

But man, work up to 5 miles a day. You'll burn out and die if you go right to that, start with half a mile, and increase over a few months. As someone that went from a tech school background to running 3 miles every day(until sciatic nerve problems stopped me), I can say for sure your atrophied legs will want time to get started.

Re:

[AzureWrathHal]

"For instance, cut yourself off from high sugar, caffeine and soda, eat salads and run 5 miles a day for a month and see how much your productivity increases. You'll find that you can do more, you sleep better and feel a lot healthier."

I don't know about you, but five miles a day eating salads and I'd feel a lot like killing myself.

I don't spend a few hours every day exercising so I can eat rabbit food.

Re:

[EastCoastSurfer]

Good point. 5 miles day on salads is a recipe for disaster. Even if you're trying to lose weight you don't want to put yourself into that high of a caloric deficit. A better idea is just start eating healthier foods. No more fast food, cookies, chips, etc... Instead eat lots of veggies, unprocessed meats, unprocessed carbs, and some good fats. You'd be surprised how much of the good food you can eat before you hit your calorie target.

Also, 5 miles/day isn't required to lose weight. In fact, if losing

Re:

[metlin]

I merely mentioned salads as an example of healthy food. You could eat grilled chicken salad for lunch and other lean foods which are rich in protein but are not calorie and fat heavy and stay healthy. In fact, you'd be amazed at the variety of salads that are available that are quite healthy and can sustain your body's needs. Hitting that calorie mark would be surprisingly hard.

Secondly, I was mentioning 5 miles/day not to lose weight but to stay in shape - I run to improve my stamina (I'm a climber) and t

Re:

[EastCoastSurfer]

Google HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and looked at the article linked. Sprinting burns more calories while doing the exercise and leads to an increased caloric usage for up to 48 hours after exercising. It also depletes a different glycogen store which leads to sprinting targeting fat more than steady state running (again read the article I originally linked or google HIIT).

If you don't want to read my link or google HIIT just trust me when I say I've switched people from steady state running to

Re:

[Vancorps]

Hey, Stallone is an artist. Sample Artwork [imagemakersart.com]

Stallone isn't dumb

[gatorflux]

Stallone is an accomplished script writer and a damned good businessman. Take a look at the deal he struck when he wrote and sold Rocky to the studio (he basically retained the rights to future sequels). Stallone has been able to fly under the radar because he sounds uneducated when he talks (due to an injury sustained at birth, if I remember correctly).

Re:

[be951]

Well, you have a point, but this [cnn.com] wasn't all that smart.

Re:Stallone isn't dumb

[x2A]

"It paralyzed one side of his face."

Wow, that happens to me too whenever I watch any of his films!

Re:

[jerkychew]

Stallone wrote and starred in an Oscar-winning movie [imdb.com]. I think you have to have a few brain cells to pull something like that off - What have you done that's so smart?

Re:

[ozbird]

(Doesn't explain Stallone though).

Growth hormones - he's facing court in Australia (delayed for six weeks) for illegal importation of 48 vials of Jintropin.

Exersize Is Good For You?

[ranton]

Wow, who would have thought that exersize actually improves your body in some way?

Re:Exersize Is Good For You?

[ranton]

Hmm, looks like I need more time on the treadmill because my spelling in that post was just horrible.

--

Back to Locke

[Kelson]

So here we are, once again, with Locke's ideal of a sound mind in a sound body.

The challenge for computer geeks: finding a way to merge exercise with mostly-sedentary hobbies and jobs. Perhaps it's a job for mobile computing: Set a tablet PC in front of a treadmill, and read Slashdot while running?

Re:Back to Locke

[svendsen]

The really sad thing is you only need 30 mins of exercise a day and cut back on junk food to lose weight, be healthy, etc. The amount of excuses I hear is pathetic. Walk, bike, lift, get into a sport, etc. Problem is so many people think the virtual world is a better place to be.

How dare you sir

[Fifty Points]

I walk my virtual dog around Second Life every day you insensitive clod!

Re:

[Paulrothrock]

The virtual world is a better place to be. I can seek out people of common interests. I can block people who are jerks. I'm judged by my ability to form cogent arguments rather than my appearance or speech.

But, really, there's no reason you ever have to leave the virtual world. Most podcasts are about an hour long, which is plenty of time to get enough exercise. Plug in your earbuds and go for a walk. Turn around halfway through and do this three times a week. No need to leave the virtual world, and no nee

Re:

[Kelbear]

"Either way, you probably shouldn't tell other people how to live their lives. :)"

Do as I say, not as I do?

He's just exercising free speech. Some might even consider telling someone what they believe is best for them to be a moral imperative. If I believe the box has a bomb in it, I'd probably tell the guy not to open the box. He's free to open the box, maybe even prove me wrong by showing that the box is empty. It's just advice after all, whether or not it's welcome.

Re:

[Spacezilla]

Free speech? I'm disappointed. Why not play the "think of the children" card instead? That seems very popular around here these days. :)

Re:

[Garret_Duran]

Peddle powered Interwebs. The faster you peddle the more bandwidth you're allowed to use. Pirates would be the fittest people in the world!

Re:

[XxtraLarGe]

How about DDR [wikipedia.org] or EyeToy [wikipedia.org]?

Re:

[Rycross]

Or Wii and Wii Sports. I'm doing an experiment with that right now. I figure, its probably not as good as running, but its something thats easier for me to stick to. And if its not that great, I can at least develop the exercise habits and move into something better.

DDR < ITG

[DeadCatX2]

DDR is too easy. The hardest songs top out at 10, and the average of the hardest difficulty over all songs is around 8.

ITG tops out at 13, has hands/mines/rolls, and almost every song has an expert setting with a difficulty of at least 9. Plus, the average ITG arcade machine is of much higher quality than the average DDR machine.

Besides that, everyone plays single...double is where it's at. It takes much more energy to move your center of mass back and forth across a distance of several feet than it does

Re:

[Rycross]

And what if they've tried sports, walking, biking, etc, and found it so boring that they had a lot of trouble sticking to their exercise? Why is it bad that they can integrate exercise with something they love, and make it easier to stick to it. The best kind of exercise is the kind you actually do.

Personally, if I could, I would just ski all the time for exercise. Damn seasonal sports. Of course, being in the flat state of Illinois doesn't help either.

Re:

[shmlco]

"Personally, if I could, I would just ski all the time for exercise."

Skiing is primarily an anaerobic sport, unless you're talking about cross-country or unless you're the type who's constantly falling down and trying to get back up.... ;)

Re:

[Rycross]

More of the second.... ;)

But my heart rate goes up when I ski. There's a lot of movement in it.

Re:Back to Locke

[Rycross]

Swimming and biking require social interaction? Aside from sports, a lot of exercise is primarily solitary. How many useful skills do you learn from exercise and sports really? How does using a video game to exercise preclude you from learning about your body or the fundamentals of exercise?

I don't get your opposition to using video games as an exercise tool. It seems to be more emotional than rational. Are you suggesting that there's somehow less value because you are exercising in a private place using technology?

Re:

[CastrTroy]

I see most people at the gym as being very solitary too. Many people will look at you weird if you go up to them and start talking to them at the gym. Especially if it's someone of the opposite sex. I say that as long as you get exercise, it really shouldn't matter what you're doing. Myself, I like to bike ride, but even riding with someone else tends to be very solitary. You don't go for a nice leisurely ride and spend the whole time talking to the other person. Usually you just ride, and then talk wh

Re:

[Rycross]

As a biker would you say that its very good exercise? Does your heart rate get up? I'm kinda eying it for the spring to fall months as something I might want to get into. I remember loving biking around as a kid, but I don't recall myself ever getting a good workout from it.

Re:

[Sponge Bath]

Does your heart rate get up?

Yes, just before you get run down by an SUV.

Biking is great. Coexisting with cars is challenging,
which kills the enjoyment for me.

This is not a rant against car drivers in general.
There are plenty of idiots operating both bikes and cars.

Re:

[CastrTroy]

Your heart rate gets as high as you want it to. I see lots of people going for leisurely bike rides where they don't even break a sweat. Now that's better than nothing at all, but I myself wouldn't consider it exercise. Also, try to bike on areas where there's hills [wikipedia.org]. This works very well at increasing your heart rate. If you really try to push yourself, and actually do it as exercise, it can be a great workout, even if you can't find good hills.

Re:

[steelfood]

Swimming and biking require social interaction? Aside from sports, a lot of exercise is primarily solitary. How many useful skills do you learn from exercise and sports really?

Tell that to the people taking self-defense classes. I'd count self-defense a useful skill.

In addition, because of the nature of self-defense, it almost requires socializing. You can't partner with anyone if you don't trust them. And learn self-defense without a partner is only a little better than learning how to dance.

By the way, I

Re:

[Rycross]

Are these skills so valuable that we have to put down other forms of exercise (such as using video games) as not being sufficient. After all, one of the acceptable exercises listed was walking. You can probably get more out of Wii Sports than you can out of walking if you put effort into it. And walking doesn't give you considerable skills.

Skills may be a bonus, but I don't see them as earth-shattering things. Maybe you can run faster, or swim a little bit better. Its not going to help me in my everyda

Re:

[Paulrothrock]

The only sport I was able to stick with through high school was marching band. (And if you don't think that's a sport, you try running fifteen yards in five seconds while blowing a horn, facing front, and dressing lines.) Am I supposed to go out and start a marching band to get some exercise?

I think finding a sport you "love" is overrated. Finding a sport you can tolerate is better, then adding things you love to it. I hate walking and running, but I do it anyway because it gives me alone time to listen to

Re:

[Kelbear]

Because video games are inherently bad?

Most just get their 30 minutes of cardio by just running around by themselves. So what if they get it from a video game. The running itself isn't teaching them anything about their body, that's something seperate. DDR's a social activity if you make it that way, same with running.

Exercise is good. Socializing is good. And having them play DDR as a starting point for fitness is good too. Who knows? Maybe after they've shed 10-15lbs on the DDR mat they'll be fit enough t

Re:

[cayenne8]

" It helps because it is fun and after I get the blood pumping then I can lift weights, etc."

I actually do the opposite, and you might look into it.

I do my weight training FIRST, use it to burn my glycogen stores, and then I do my aerobic activities. With the glycogen mostly depleted, you seem to go into fat burning mode faster when you start the aerobic exercise phase if you do it in this order...

Re:Back to Locke

[TrappedByMyself]

I prefer furious masterbation

Re:

[superpulpsicle]

Does furious boost your IQ more than non-furious?

Re:

[Rogerborg]

-1, redundant; we've already had a post about Wii Sports.

Re:

[hab136]

The challenge for computer geeks: finding a way to merge exercise with mostly-sedentary hobbies and jobs.

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii [nintendo.com]

Re:

[the dark hero]

So here we are, once again, with Locke's ideal of a sound mind in a sound body.

It's not just Locke that figured this out. Some of our greatest thinkers, warlords, martial arts masters, etc. have come up with the same conclusion. If this serves as "scientific proof" to something that has been known for ages then lets hope more people will get off their asses.

Re:

[dave562]

Nutritionists have figured it out too. I read something not too long ago about a study where they found out that the body will not actually use calcium to rebuild bones without exercise to put strain on the bones.

Re:

[dreamt]

Set a tablet PC in front of a treadmill, and read Slashdot while running?

While thats better than nothing, its still probably not as good as getting in front of that treadmill without reading. Odds pare pretty good that your heart rate isn't going to hit the 65%-85% range that you would get without needing to concentrate at looking down at a steady object with small print. It always kills me to see people on the treadmill, elypical, etc reading away and barely breaking a sweat.

Re:

[shmlco]

iPods and Audible [audible.com] audiobooks make a great combination in that regard.

Re:

[Copid]

It always kills me to see people on the treadmill, elypical, etc reading away and barely breaking a sweat.

Well, those people are definitely burning calories and contributing to weight loss, but I agree, if they're able to go faster and actually work toward fitness they definitely should.

Bike to work.

[Beardo the Bearded]

It's this simple: Bike to work.

Ten years ago, I weighed 250 pounds. Today, I'm at about 175. (I don't keep accurate track anymore, but I do check every now and again.)

I started by biking to school. On the first day, I had to stop about a dozen times. I didn't realize just how out of shape I had become. I stuck with it (the 4th day is the worst, since that's when you're the sorest.) and kept biking to school. I biked all the way through university, and I've been biking to work since graduating. (Electrical E

Re:

[magicchex]

Because all non-geeks don't read eh?

You're a fucking anti-social asshole aren't you? You make your ilk look horrible and I'm sure they really appreciate it.

So if I go jogging

[pfortuny]

I will develop some mouse cells in my brain?

What's the catch? Have I missed something?

Do I need more jogging?

Re:

[Rick.C]

I will develop some mouse cells in my brain? What's the catch? Have I missed something? Do I need more jogging?

I depends on whether you jog on two legs or four.

Re:

[element-o.p.]

mmmm.....cheese :)

FTA

[MyLongNickName]

"Exercise generated blood flow to the dentate gyrus of the people, and the more fit a person got, the more blood flow the MRI detected, the researchers found."

However, if your gym looks like this [cnn.net] one shown in the article, I think the blood will flow elsewhere

Re:

[ranton]

Are you kidding me? The gym I went to in college makes that picture look conservative. Made going to the gym just a little bit more enjoyable. Many women wear more clothes on the beach than they do in the gym. Thank god for that.

--

That explains it!

[decipher_saint]

That explains all those pro-quarterback particle theorists! "Gauge bosons are like running backs right? They gotta take the elemental forces of the universe to the end zone."

Re:That explains it!

[XxtraLarGe]

That explains all those pro-quarterback particle theorists!

Well, just imagine how stupid some jocks might be if they DIDN'T work out!

Re:

[xPsi]

And just imagine what kind of contributions to science Stephen Hawkings might have made if only he could work out like Arnold!

Re:

[Guy Harris]

That explains all those pro-quarterback particle theorists!

No, not particle theory, complex analysis [wikipedia.org].

This proves what I suspected all along...

[negated]

...Stephen Hawking benchpresses bulldozers when no one is watching!

Re:

[slothman32]

There is a cartoon, I think Farside, about sloths.
It says, "What sloths do when no one is around."
In then shows a picture of a sloth dancing and "dadada" from music.

Re:

[x2A]

I saw him competing in robot wars once...

Re:

[LouisZepher]

On which end of the remote though?

No brainer

[twifosp]

This sounds like a no brainer to me. The brain needs oxygen to make chemical and electrical reactions. The brain will get the most blood circulation, thus carrying the most fresh oxygen, during and after exercise. Furthermore lots of exercise promotes a healthy cardiovascular and central nervous system. Something that can only improve the brain.

I know that after I complete a heavy lifting routine or a good cardio work out, I feel great for the rest of the day. I think clearer. I don't feel any craving

Re:

[Colin Smith]

Also, regular exercise lifts depression, increases testosterone levels among males reduces risk of heart disease.

Y'know, It's almost as if humans evolved to exercise regularly.

 

Workout

[Mark_MF-WN]

It's always funny to see how people that work-out assume that because it makes them feel good, it must make everyone feel good. This is usually followed up by some thinly veiled self-righteousness.

People who don't exercise are often the way they are because exercise makes them feel HORRIBLE. Personally, I've tried to get into shape a number of times. But after three or four weeks of working out, I just can't take it anymore -- the pain, the exhaustion, the depression, the undirected feelings of anger,

Science! You gotta love it.

[w33t]

So if I couple the above article with this one [newscientist.com] then I can only assume that I am supposed to exercise and smoke a whole lot of pot while I do it.

Note to everyone: doesn't mean stronger = smarter

[192939495969798999]

Exercising causing a boost in long-term memory ability is not the same as making your IQ go up 20 points by going to the gym. Furthermore, sports/bodybuilding/etc don't have a high IQ requirement for entry, you basically just have to be able to put up with working out all the time. If pro football required a phd, then all pro football players would have a "phd" of some kind. It mostly requires being gigantic and being able to mentally retain some of the rules of football, so mostly that's what the player

Next project...

[Vexler]

...to write and construct an interface between my brain and Madden 2007.

Minus the steroids, of course.

This is why the Wii and DS keep you going

[WillAffleckUW]

One increases your Brain Age and lets you socialize with your pets (DS), the other lets you get exercise indoors (Wii).

But in most scientific studies, the things that consistently help ameliorate the effects of aging are: mild to moderate exercise (even walking up stairs or parking 2 blocks away), a varied diet high in vegetables and fruits, drinking red wine (men) or grape juice (anyone), and more education.

I can't exercise!

[Pedrito]

Dude, this sucks. A year and a half ago you guys said that cannabinoids induce brain growth [slashdot.org] and man, I've really been putting that theory to the test. But now you want me to exercise? I can't do both dude. And given a choice... I think I'll stick with the old news...

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Desk work

[Sigma 7]

Most of us here have desk work for 8 hours/day - not counting 1-2 hours travel time on a bus. How do we get exercise in this situation?

While I did find links to desk exercise websites, they are most frequently some simple stretches and not really much of an exercise.

Re:

[th3space]

Provided that your environment (i.e. weather, location, crime-rate) permits it, you could try walking 30 minutes a day at lunch...just pack a change of clothes and swap them out in the bathroom (bring deodorant and a towel, too). Even low-impact walking can have a positive impact on your overall well-being.

Before I changed positions and moved offices, a friend of mine (also a trainer) had suggested to me that, though it would look funny, getting a large exercise ball to sit on at work in lieu of a chair

Brain cells, exercise, & smoking

[Keith Duhaime]

As a marathon runner over the years I have noticed something with new runners that show up at our winter-spring clinics who have recently or are trying to quit smoking. The ones that stick with the regime (about 16 weeks) that it takes to prep for a marathon I have repeatedly told me that they lose their nicotine craving almost totally, and that the running seems to be a big part of it. These are people who were previously quite hardcore smokers for a number of years. Could it be that running (and other

And if you act now...

[th3space]

Getting exercise will actually increase your virility, boost your pheromone output and make you a little more dynamic in the bedroom, which then becomes a self-sustaining cycle, as love-making is a wonderful form of low-impact (if that's your style, of course) aerobic (and sometimes anaerobic) exercise!

Geeks, nerds and dorks alike, lend me your ears! You too can have a hot, steamy social life for just 30 minutes a day!

And as a free, no-cost-to-you-at-all bonus, if you act within the next few years, you may

Whoop de doo...

[JRHelgeson]

Thats like great and all, but when is somebody going to do something about how fat I am?

Re:Ya, I'm not so sure...

[AKAImBatman]

Why are so many "body builder" types so dumb then?

They're not "dumb", but they're also not necessarily the intellectual type. From what I've seen, the reason for that is that your intellectual spends too much time in an introverted state to worry about the world around them. Regular exercise is not engaging to their internal senses, so they tend to find it "boring". The more extroverted types get their engagement from the world around them, and thus find pleasure in physical activity.

Re:

[Lumpy]

Please list the number of Nobel prise winning Boxers.

Ok, list the number of them that can name all 50 states and count without looking at their hands and feet.

sorry, but most atheletes, specifically the pound each other type are not the brightest. I've never met a smart rugby player, But they are handy in a brawl.

Re:

[svendsen]

They aren't talking about Atheletes, as there job is to be good physically over mentally. They are talking about getting basic exercise so we dont have a fat useless society.

My fiance is in the science world and of the ones we know (a ton mind you) they all do some sort of exercise. Yet of all the IT people I know (again a lot) maybe 1% actually do anything.

Re:Ya, I'm not so sure...

[Rycross]

There aren't any nobel prize winning boxers because they are devoting their time to boxing and not to science. I'd suspect you could find some nobel prize winners that work out.

Re:

[bogjobber]

sorry, but most atheletes, specifically the pound each other type are not the brightest.

Sure, but most *people* aren't particularly smart. Since most sports don't necessitate having a large amount of intelligence, you see a range similar to what you'd find in the rest of society. It has nothing to do with athletic people being stupid, it's just that intelligence doesn't influence your success in sports as much as in "regular" society. Even looking at different sports you are likely to find large diff

Re:Ya, I'm not so sure...

[Big_Al_B]

Actually, I remember reading about a study that indicated genius level processing in peak performing athletes. For example, an NFL quarterback can identify 3 - 5 potential receivers, track their viability, and decide how to execute a play in under a second--while avoiding defenders.

I would argue that such ability takes a level of intelligence that, if applied to other pursuits, would be widely recognized as remarkable.

Re:

[RootWind]

I would suspect it is because they don't actually try to actively use their minds? (assuming this is entirely true) For instance, giving someone who doesn't exercise anabolic steroids would not turn them into a strong person.

Re:

[fred fleenblat]

>> Why are so many "body builder" types so dumb then?

The governor of the state of California would like to have a word with you.

Re:

[AuMatar]

Politicians need charisma, not brains. See the current president for an example.

Re:

[tempestdata]

are you actually implying that bush has Charisma?

Re:

[thewils]

It's the 'roids. They build up the neck muscles so much that blood has a hard time reaching the brain.

Re:

[Kelbear]

They reap what they sow. They invested a large amount of time, effort, and money into their body to "body-build" and as a result they're big and strong. Those who invest their free time, effort, and money into intellectual pursuits are going to be better informed, and possibly more intelligent. And there's no reason people can't diversify into both mental and physical disciplines.

Re:simultaneous death/regrowth?

[Daishiman]

High performance sporting is not healthy. Repeat: NOT healthy. I've been training for marathons with an Olympic athlete who consistently runs 42K in under 2 hours 15 minutes. He needs to take a continuos stream of dietary supplements and run 25 kilometers daily, use special cushioning on all his footwear to compensate for the deformation that the impact of running produces, and keep an extremely strict dietary regimen, not to mention constant sports massages to keep himself from cramping as well as a myriad of other things.

Being a professional means pushing your body to extremes it was not meant to take. We're not built to run such distances at those speeds.

Remember though, that only applies to the 0.001% of the population that plays professionally and has masochistic tendencies. Your average slashdotter should get off its ass and at the very least walk a half hour daily. I know that ever since I started running in the morning my day feels much better than before, and indeed I do feel sharper.

Dying Brain

[Mark_MF-WN]

It DOES just seem like brain cells must be dying. Just like how when you run a car until the tank is dry, the circuitry all shorts-out. I mean, isn't it obvious? Parts of the brain die everytime anyone becomes exhausted!

Huh...

I think we know whose brain is really suffering from some cell-death.

Re:

[ichigo 2.0]

By actually bothering to read the summary, or TFA. If you already did, then you need more exercise.

Re:

[rapidweather]

Bicycling for exercise:

When I started bicycling, outdoors, each day I would tackle the same hill, and see how long it took to get up there, and back down. Used one of those handlebar bicycle computers. Going up, when it got hard, lots of cuss words were appropriate to the pain and extreme effort. That in itself did not boost brainpower, the same ones seemed appropriate on each assent. Soon, I varied the ride, going other places in the same outing. Looking for some more hills, where I could exercise my verba