physically
Fitness Relationships With Brain Development
Researchers at the University of Illinois have published a study on the relationship of fitness with brain development in children aged nine and ten years old. The results of this study suggest that children with a regular physical activity perform better than their less active peers in many cognitive tasks.
The new study, using magnetic resonance imaging to measure the relative size of specific structures of the brains of 49 children, appears in the journal: Brain Research.
This research found that children who are physically fit show an increase in hippocampus volume. This area of the brain known to be important in learning and memory. Previous studies in older adults and in animals have shown that exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus. A larger hippocampus is associated with better performance on spatial reasoning and other cognitive tasks.
The researchers measured the efficiency with which children could use oxygen while running through a tape. They showed that individuals who are more fit have a better ability to use oxygen to those who are less fit in physical activity and especially those who are devoid of physical activity more intense.
Children who were in better physical condition also performed better on tests of relational memory, which is the ability to recall and integrate various types of information than their peers with less physical activity.
In today’s world, this cannot be good news for some parents who depend on computers and video games to keep their kids occupied. Children need physical activity and this study suggests that the best physical shape of a child, then, is to improve what they will do in school.
Most of us know that exercise is good for the body. Exercise helps keep us healthy and gives us more energy. It also helps in muscle development and strengthens the heart muscle. Now, apparently, exercise increases the size of the hippocampus and allows children to have better performance in many cognitive tasks.
Although parents cannot change the genes of their children and often have limited control over their socio-economic status, we know that parents can encourage physical activity in children. This can help give their children an advantage in school and in everyday life.
We also know that “Do as I say, not as I do” this kind of parenting actually much does not work. Children learn best from example of their parents. The adults in charge must work to maintain a high level of fitness and physical activity if you want both for yourself and your children to maintain healthy fitness.
Parents should be involved as much as possible in physical activities with their children. Thus, parents are not only strong influential healthy lifestyle, but are also helping their children to better school performance.