MRI scans prove that the brains of endurance runners exhibit greater functional connectivity than the brains of more sedentary individuals.
Researchers from University of Arizona compared brain scans of young adult cross country runners to young adults who seldom engage in regular physical activity. The results prove that the runners posses 'greater functional connectivity'- meaning distinct parts of the brain region exhibited connections. These brain region include the frontal cortex which is responsible in processing planning, decision-making abilities and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Additional studies are needed in order to support these current findings. It will be worthy to note whether these difference in brain connectivity also result in differences of cognitive outputs.
David Raichlen, UA running expert, co-designed the study with Gene Alexander, UA psychology professor. Alexander focuses his study on Alzheimer's disease and brain again being a member of the A's Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute.
"One of the things that drove this collaboration was that there has been a recent proliferation of studies, over the last 15 years, that have shown that physical activity and exercise can have a beneficial impact on the brain, but most of that work has been in older adults," confirmed Raichlen.
MRI Scans Performed On Cross Country Male Runners
Raichlen and Alexander compared the MRI scans of a group of males who are also cross country runners to the scans of males that had not engaged in any physical activity for over a year. All other aspects such as age (18-25), mass and index and educational levels were roughly the same.
"This question of what's occurring in the brain at younger ages hasn't really been explored in much depth, and it's important," said Raichlen. "Not only are we interested in what's going on in the brains of young adults, but we know that there are things that you do across your lifespan that can impact what happens as you age, so it's important to understand what's happening in the brain at these younger ages."
The scans reflected the functional connectivity-brain activity while participants are awake however at rest and unengaged in any particular task.
The results of the scans encouraged further interest in running and its impact on the brain.
In the past, studies have revealed that certain activities requiring motor control (playing a musical instruments) or hand-eye coordination (playing golf) have effects, and even alter, brain anatomy and physiology.
There are however limited studies that investigated on activities that require repetition, such us running. The findings of Riachlen and Alexander revealed that repetitive actives can have similar effects with actives requiring great level of motor control.
"These activities that people consider repetitive actually involve many complex cognitive functions -- like planning and decision-making -- that may have effects on the brain," further confirmed Raichlen.
Alexander however clarified that the findings are not important measures to consider in cases of waging adults (especially the ones with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases). The reason for this is that functional connectivity become altered as a person ages. In this regard, results collected from young adults could further aid in better understanding and prevention of degenerative diseases involving the brain.
