Several new studies show that biking improves the way your brain works by making several important structures bigger so you can think faster, remember more, and feel happier
Biking releases growth hormones that increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain, stimulating the release of powerful mood-enhancing endorphins. These chemical messengers can create euphoria and pain relief. This is also the reason why biking can reduce mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. A 2010 study from the American College of Sports Medicine showed that just one 30-minute bike ride daily can boost your mood and tackle depression, completely free from prescribed medication.
The brain is made up of two kinds of tissue: grey matter and white matter. Grey matter has all the synapses and is the command center of your body. The white matter is the communication hub which uses axons to connect the different parts of grey matter. The more white matter you have, the faster you can make important connections. So, producing the more white matter the better.
A recent study from the Netherlands found that biking does exactly that, improving both the integrity and density of white matter, therefore speeding up connections in the brain.
There are certain chemicals in the brain which, due to exercise such as biking, can make you physically and mentally feel better. Here are three of these chemicals: serotonin, dopamine, and phenylethylamine.
Serotonin is the mood neurotransmitter which keeps us emotionally and socially stable. Levels of serotonin rise during biking, boosting self-confidence and positive feelings.
Dopamine is a major feel-good neurotransmitter, essential to helping us feel energised and motivated
Phenylethylamine is a naturally occurring neurotransmitting chemical found in the brain. It aids the production of dopamine and raises blood pressure which makes us feel more alert and also helps with mood.
You’ll not only feel mentally better after a ride, but you’ll actually be smarter. Biking, along with other types of aerobic exercise, has been shown to increase the hippocampus, one of several brain structures related to memory and learning.
Professor Art Kramer, director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois found that biking can increase children’s performance in school.
He also found that biking can help the elderly combat memory loss.
He did an experiment where elderly subjects rode their bikes regularly for six months. The results showed that the hippocampus increased in size by two percent, reversing brain ageing by one to two years. So basically their brains grew two years younger. Their memory and problem solving skills also increased by 15 to 20 percent. Additionally, the cyclists reported a greater ability to focus and an improved attention span.
Biking for just 30 minutes a day will help you achieve stronger neural connections, a better mood, a sharper memory, and the list goes on. Thank you.