Since brain researchers like Ratey are often accused of looking at the physical aspects of our being at the expense of environmental conditioning, Ratey takes time this week to share research done in the 1960’s that resulted in the formation of head start to overcome environmental delays in children raised in poverty. Research has consistently shown that if the brain is stimulated it expands and if deprived its shrinks. So Ratey concludes that an enriched environment that includes exercise will enhance thinking and memory skills in children. So it turns out that it is not either or but both and when considering the impact of nature and nurture.
Ratey goes on to point out that another benefit of exercise is that it controls the emotional and physical feelings of stress. Ratey proves that regular aerobic activity calms the body, so that it can handle more stress. Since studies show that employees who exercise regularly have fewer sick days, again there is no down side to exercise especially for the children we mentor who tend to be so sedentary, they often have excessive illness.
Next week we’ll explore the effect exercise can have on anxiety and depression.