Scientists at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have found that just 10 minutes of moderate-intensity running increases blood flow to the part of the brain responsible for emotional control and executive function. This is reported in an article published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The researchers hypothesized that running increases overall neural activity in the prefrontal cortex, since physical activity requires highly precise coordination of balance and movement and induces blood flow to this area of the brain. To test this connection, experts used the Stroop color test and collected data on hemodynamic changes associated with brain function.
The test is that the word for the color does not match the color of the word itself. This causes a delay in the reaction of the reader, who should name the color of the word, and not read the word itself, which allows you to evaluate the changes taking place in the brain. The results showed that after 10 minutes of moderate-intensity running, there was a significant reduction in lag time. In addition, the scientists noted an increase in mood among the participants in the experiment.
