Even short bursts of simple exercises by children, like rubbing hands, elbow circles or single-leg balance, can increase blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for important cognitive functions like decision-making, memory, and attention.

I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-66598-6

From the linked article:

A recent study by researchers from Waseda University offers promising insights into the effects of light-intensity exercise on children’s brain function. The research, published in Scientific Reports, found that even short bursts of simple exercises can increase blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for important cognitive functions like decision-making, memory, and attention. This discovery could pave the way for easy-to-implement exercise routines that improve brain function, particularly in children, who often lead increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

The study revealed that all forms of exercise, except for some static stretches, significantly increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex compared to the resting state. This increased blood flow is a sign of heightened brain activity, particularly in regions associated with executive functions such as working memory, attention, and decision-making.

“I was surprised that rubbing hands and moving fingers for 10 to 20 seconds increased blood flow to a certain extent in the prefrontal cortex”.

Interestingly, the exercises that involved more movement or a higher cognitive load, such as twisting the trunk or balancing on one leg, led to the greatest increases in brain activity. For example, exercises like elbow circles, which required broader movements, and single-leg balance, which required concentration to maintain balance, showed notable increases in blood flow in multiple regions of the prefrontal cortex.