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Diane
18-01-2008, 05:41 PM
Found this, posted at Mindblog (http://mindblog.dericbownds.net/2008/01/exercise-effects-on-brain-and-cognition.html) this morning:
Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition
Charles H. Hillman1, Kirk I. Erickson2 & Arthur F. Kramer2

Abstract
An emerging body of multidisciplinary literature has documented the beneficial influence of physical activity engendered through aerobic exercise on selective aspects of brain function. Human and non-human animal studies have shown that aerobic exercise can improve a number of aspects of cognition and performance. Lack of physical activity, particularly among children in the developed world, is one of the major causes of obesity. Exercise might not only help to improve their physical health, but might also improve their academic performance. This article examines the positive effects of aerobic physical activity on cognition and brain function, at the molecular, cellular, systems and behavioural levels. A growing number of studies support the idea that physical exercise is a lifestyle factor that might lead to increased physical and mental health throughout life.

I guess they didn't look at the Taubs movie about white bread and sugar.
Although I don't dispute in any way that motion is lotion or that exercise won't strengthen hearts, or that longterm (dogged) exercise might not change factors that COULD lead to decreased food intake over time.. leading to weight loss..

Bas
18-01-2008, 06:39 PM
Funny thing is, I also read that ongoing stimulation of brain functions has a beneficial effects on physical health as well.......Don't remember where, sorry.
BTW, Diane, I LOVE the "mouse that roared" avatar you have. And the somewhat Buddha-like exibitionist avatar for Jason....Cool!

Diane
18-01-2008, 06:53 PM
I LOVE the "mouse that roared" avatar you have
I am led to believe it's a cute rat, not mouse. I found it here (http://neuraldump.com/2008/01/rats.html), fell in love with it myself, and made my own copy. I like to think that the rat has learned that it's impossible to move the sutures of a cat's cranium, but that cats are easy to tame when you pet them on the head.

I like that spherical hamster of Jason's too. I liked his hedghehog with a green leg cast too. Your dog is cute too Bas, and Nari's roos, Jon's goose... What a menagerie we're ending up with.

Jon Newman
18-01-2008, 06:59 PM
Jon's goose

It's hard to tell but it's a Sandhill crane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_crane)

Diane
18-01-2008, 07:07 PM
It's hard to tell but it's a Sandhill craneOops, sorry, my mistake.

Jon Newman
18-01-2008, 08:24 PM
No problem. I was just promoting aviary accuracy. If you click on the avatar itself it shows an enlarged picture with better detail.

They're pretty cool birds.

Jon Newman
27-09-2008, 04:33 AM
Well this is a bit of serendipity. First, the reason I searched out this thread is because of this recent entry (http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2008/09/exercise_repairs_brain_damage.php) at Mo's Neurophilosophy blog about exercise and recovery from radiotherapy for brain cancer (in children.)

The serendipity part is that I just recently changed my avatar from the Sandhill Crane mentioned earlier to a picture my wife (Michelle) took of a Whooping Crane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whooping_Crane) (which also happens to be whopping crane.)