Fitness Friday

Runners Improved Neural Activity Similar to Musicians

MRI's in a study have shown that a runner's brain is wired similarly to a musicians. allowing them to complete complex tasks much like the musical instruments musicians play.

Researchers at the University of Arizona have found more motivation for those taking up endurance running. The study took MRI's of young adult cross country runners and compared them to young adults who do not exercise regularly. The researchers found that the cross country runners showed greater functional activity in the frontal cortex (responsible for planning, decision making and switching attention between tasks) among several other areas of the brain. While the study has found the connections in increased functional activity in MRI's, they have not yet proven the improved cognitive state.

The lead researcher and running expert David Raichlen, conducted the study on young adults due to the abundance of already existing studies linking running to beneficial behavior having been completed based on older adults. The other reason that Raichlen conducted the study was due to the fact that molded young adult minds often determine the well being of the rest of their adult lives. All participants were between 18-25 years old with similar BMI and education levels, and the MRI's studied resting state functional activity. The increased functional activity found in the study came somewhat as a surprise, as running is a repetitive activity whereas playing music require much more precise motor control. Raichlen will be conducting further studies to see if this increased functional activity has an effect on the prevention of diseases such as Alzheimer's later in life.