You'll think better:

Scientists have suspected for decades that exercise, particularly regular aerobic exercise, can affect the brain. But they could only speculate as to how. Now an expanding body of research shows that exercise can improve the performance of the brain by boosting memory and cognitive processing speed. Exercise can, in fact, create a stronger, faster brain.

This theory emerged from those mouse studies at the Salk Institute. After conducting maze tests, the neuroscientist Fred H. Gage and his colleagues examined brain samples from the mice. Conventional wisdom had long held that animal (and human) brains weren’t malleable: after a brief window early in life, the brain could no longer grow or renew itself. The supply of neurons — the brain cells that enable us to think — was believed to be fixed almost from birth. As the cells died through aging, mental function declined. The damage couldn’t be staved off or repaired.

Gage’s mice proved otherwise. Before being euthanized, the animals had been injected with a chemical compound that incorporates itself into actively dividing cells. During autopsy, those cells could be identified by using a dye. Gage and his team presumed they wouldn’t find such cells in the mice’s brain tissue, but to their astonishment, they did. Up until the point of death, the mice were creating fresh neurons. Their brains were regenerating themselves.

Cool.

Though I'm not sure how it explains all those brilliant jocks out there. Or Richard Simmons.

After years in the military where I did a lot of running (and have the bad knees to prove it), I'm personally convinced that running causes brain damage. I exercise every day but running is just something I won't do any more unless something is chasing me. Not gonna risk it. Wouldn't be prudent.

How many jocks did they dissect to confirm their findings for human brains? I'll bet any numbers of people would volunteer Michael Vick and Barry Bonds right now. Or Jeff Gordon. Not sure how much aerobic exercise Gordon gets.

Is turning left aerobic?

(just thought I'd add that before some F-1 or IRL fan did)

Larry J,
except for those of us who were forced by contractual agreement to run for Uncle Sam, running doesn't necessarily cause brain damage. But seems to prove it. They've reported several of these fanatics collapsing in the heat here recently.

I guess jogging when it's 100 degrees or better outside isn't healthy after all.

I base my assertion that running causes brain damage on 3 points:

1. Running causes the oxygen level in the blood stream to decrease. That can't be good for the brain.

2. If you inflict enough pain on yourself, your body can release powerful chemicals called endorphines. That can't be good for the brain.

3. When I was running in the Army, I was wearing combat boots. The shock waves from my feet hitting the ground were no doubt traveling through my body and "rattling my cage." That couldn't have been good for my brain, either.

Add to these is the fact that during the period when I was doing all of that running, I was in the Airborne Infantry. Any job whose description is to "jump out of airplanes and kill people" would seem to require a measure of brain damage. Whether the job was causing brain damage or proof of it is a matter of personal opinion.

And yes, I'm kidding. Except that I won't run anymore due to bad knees. Or, as a good friend said many years ago, "I'm alergic to exercise. It makes me break out in a sweat and breathe hard."

I wouldn't be surprised if heavy weight lifting would have a similar effect. They could probably only say with certainty that aerobic exercise resulted in neurogenesis since its probably easier to get mice to do aerobic exercises that anaerobic.

Lifting heavy weights activates an increasing number of fast twitch motor nerve pathways as the amount of strain and explosivity increases. Thats why your muscles vibrate and shake as the load increases. Repeated training of heavy lifting routines improves your muscle memory and coordination of opposing muscle groups. Mental focus plays a tremendous part in being able to successfully complete a heavy rep. More focus is required the closer you get to your 1 rep maximum. I often find my mind much more relaxed and clear after a heavy routine.

I had a somewhat technical job while In the Marine Corps, and since I actually had to do my job rather than sit at my desk and bitch at people like the officers, I also had to excercise at a rate that wasn't always suitable to me (though I was one of the "studs" in my company at one time) I can say absolutely, that after a long run, or after a rigorous workout, I might have been functional, but compared to my lazy moments just before chow break (worked out during chow) or just before I left for the evening to chase broads, I was virtually useless.

you are too moody after a work out. You are frantic, you are calm and contemplative, you are distracted by your muscle burn, or by the sudden sweats that end up covering you in sweaty nastiness, so you respond either with frantic imperfect action, or a slow methodical repetative task.

Just saying.

In my view aerobic exercize relieves stress and boosts creativity. I regularly played hoops and exercized when working in high tech product development. It enabled me to deal with management pukes and helped with problem solving.

Sorry to hear about Larry J's brain damage and his upcoming vote for the Clinton-Obama ticket.

Sorry to hear about Larry J's brain damage and his upcoming vote for the Clinton-Obama ticket.

The only way that would happen is if I'm dead or in a coma (both popular pools of Democrat voters). Fortunately, I stopped running long ago and most of the damage has been reversed. I put it this way, I wouldn't vote for either of them if they were standing in front of me, offering me a million dollars with one hand and threatening to shoot me with a gun in the other hand. The same can be said for just about any other Democrat.

Hmm. I began running and swimming regularly when I was 28. My father had just died from surgery complications at age 61. He was 100 pounds overweight. I thought that could be me when I'm 61.

My health is excellent. I'll let other people decide about my mind.

Oh -- this year I attained an age my father did not. I'm also about 100 pounds lighter than my father when he went in for surgery.

My knees are in excellent shape. I don't whether to credit my late start, heredity, good sense about running or something else.

>>I'm not sure how it explains all those brilliant jocks out there. Or Richard Simmons.
Imagine what they might be like if they *didn't* exercise.