No one can question today that Physical Exercise is essential for optimal health and is beneficial for both the treatment and prevention of virtually all known diseases. It has an overall effect on the health and functionality of the whole organism, which is closely related to the brain. In fact, the brain is possibly the organ that benefits most from regular physical activity because its positive effects also help to develop its health and functionality.
Movement is one of the main functions of the brain, more important perhaps than thinking. Any movement, simple as it may seem, involves a system that must coordinate a complex network of neurons and cells that act from different areas of the brain to send synchronised impulses that produce a precise movement in a specific part of the body. This process, which we carry out thousands of times every day, may seem simple because we produce it mostly without conscious awareness, but in reality it involves enormous complexity.
The organism relates to the environment with extreme sensitivity and produces a series of effects on a global level. Marion Diamond, considered the pioneer of modern neuroscience, observed in 1964 that the brain maintains, even in adulthood, a certain plastic capacity (changing or modelling its function or structure) that is determined by the characteristics of the environment in which the subject lives. His observations have created an important field of knowledge that studies the role of enrichment of the environment as a factor of neuronal stimulation.
Through movement we interact with the environment, which is the most relevant to the brain, and create the possibility to influence it. This is the fundamental principle of training. And this aspect is key to justify a type of physical exercise that not only addresses the purely physical adaptations but also considers the possibilities of enriching such exercise from a neurostimulatory point of view and enhancing the plastic capacity of the brain.
“We have a brain for one reason only: to produce complex, adaptive movements as the only way we have of influencing the world around us.”
Daniel Wolpert
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY NEUROEXERCISE?
Neurorexercise is a word that brings together neuroscience and exercise science. Taking as an example other similar types of words, such as neuropedagogy, neuroeducation, neuroarchitecture, neurourbanism, neuromarketing, neuronutrition, neuroeconomics, etc, among others, in all of them the prefix neuro refers to the need to take into account the impact, development and functioning of the brain for that type of activity. And we must to differentiate it from neuroexercises, with final S, which refers to mental exercises.
We know that the brain is the control center of the whole organism and has a determining effect on its functioning and on movement, but knowledge of the influence of movement on the brain is expanding. Any processing of mental operations, including the simplest ones such as holding a conversation, has a physiological basis. Brain development and its capabilities must be addressed from both a neurological and a physiological point of view.
Therefore,we understand Neuroexercise as the concept that organises the types and characteristics of physical exercise to provide for a dual physiological and neural task, in order to produce both physical and cerebral stimulation and development. It is a reformulation of the paradigm of physical exercise organisation.
Neuroexercise
Therefore, we understand Neuroexercise as the concept that organises the types and characteristics of physical exercise to provide for a dual physiological and neural task, in order to produce both physical and cerebral stimulation and development. It is a reformulation of the paradigm of physical exercise organisation.
Different types of physical exercise produce different effects on the brain. In addition, we have the possibility of modifying different characteristics to produce a greater neurostimulatory richness that enhances these effects.
To be considered neuroexercise each movement or exercise must provide novelty, variability and variants along with the challenge of complexity to avoid the adaptive resistance that comes from always performing the same pattern. Constructive difficulties must be created that allow us to push the boundaries of skill. Create activities that push us to overcome achievable challenges that lead to learning that is meaningful to the individual. As the complexity of the movement increases, the demand on the person’s attention and cognitive capacity will also increase.
Neuroscience and Psychobiology are providing us with a wealth of knowledge that suggests evolutionary guidelines towards a concept of global health. We must understand the organism as an integral entity where there is a profound relationship between physical fitness and mental fitness. With exercise we have an ideal tool to improve brain health and develop its capacities. We know that it can make us stronger, faster and more resistant, but also healthier and with better memory and concentration. By exercising our body, we exercise our brain.
“What is good for the heart is good for the brain.”
In the knowledge society, innovation in exercise comes from engaging the brain more and pushing us towards a lifestyle of healthy habits increasingly linked to brain health, not just body health. The body links the brain to the world and helps us relate to ourselves and to others.