In his book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John J. Ratey M.D. provides undeniable proof that exercise benefits not only the body but the brain as well.
Neuroscientists have recently uncovered a strong connection between exercise and cognitive function. Studies show that exercise promotes neurogenesis, the growth of new neurons in the brain. For years, it was believed that the number of neurons in the adult brain remained a fixed entity. In Spark, new research shows otherwise. Mice trained on running wheels produced twice as many new neurons as their non-running counterparts. A Japanese study showed that jogging 30 minutes a day for 12 weeks improved executive function (p.55). In a 2007 study, German researchers discovered that the learning rate in people improved 20% after exercise (p.45).
The most persuasive evidence of enhanced learning through exercise can be found in the transformation of a school district in Chicago that has implemented daily exercise programs in its curriculum. Napierville School District 203, for example, has consistently scored among Illinois' top ten schools despite the fact that the amount of money it spends on each student is significantly lower than other top-tier public schools (p.13). Moreover, Napierville Central High School scored first place in Science and sixth in Mathematics in an international test that has usually been aced by students in some Asian countries like Japan and Singapore (p.14).
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