How the brain gains from exercise

Dr. John Ratey’s public research has been part of the RapidChange curriculum for more than a decade. His work around memory and the limbic system is best summed up in his own words: “We remember what we feel is important, not what we calculate to be important.”

Dr. Ratey’s new work centers on how chemicals released in the brain during physical exercise cements memories. His most recent book is Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. Ratey explores the connection between exercise and the brain’s performance and shows how even moderate exercise will supercharge mental circuits to beat stress, sharpen thinking and enhance recall memory.

His work also supports other RapidChange-related research regarding stress. Chemicals in the body related to prolonged periods of stress can be triggers for inherited diseases, such as cancer. Learning how to manage stress - through exercise and other means - can significantly lower your risk of disease.

See a video about Ratey's findings.

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