Each daily action leaves traces in the brain. Physical activity, a restless night, or even a subtle mood variation affects it far beyond the present moment.
Finnish scientists reveal today that these effects last longer than previously thought. They can influence brain activity up to two weeks after the initial event.
At the heart of this discovery, a team of researchers from the universities of Aalto and Oulu analyzed the brain activity of a participant. For five months, she meticulously documented her daily life using wearable devices and brain scans.
The results are clear: our brain does not react independently at every moment. In fact, its activity evolves in response to changes in sleep, heart rate, or mood over several days.
Even more surprising, a simple workout session lasting just a few minutes, done two weeks earlier, could still influence memory or concentration on that very day. The link between the brain and behavior seems deeper than imagined.
An important factor, heart rate variability, plays a key role in resting brain connectivity. Meditation or other relaxation techniques could, therefore, reshape our brain even when we are inactive.
In light of these findings, researchers highlight the importance of wearable devices in monitoring mental health. These could enable better real-time management of stress and emotions, thus improving long-term well-being.
The study, published in
PLOS Biology, paves the way for a better understanding of the interactions between our body and brain, and could greatly improve personalized healthcare.
What are the impacts of a workout session on our brain?
Physical activity affects the brain well beyond the workout itself. Researchers have found that even a short period of exercise can modify neural connections, influencing memory, concentration, and cognition for several days. This influence lasts up to 15 days, meaning the brain remains sensitive to changes in the physical environment long after the exertion.
When we exercise, the brain responds by strengthening the connections between different regions. This notably improves cognitive flexibility, which is our ability to think more fluidly and adapt to changing situations. This phenomenon is partly explained by better oxygenation of the brain and an increase in the levels of certain molecules promoting neural plasticity, such as neurotrophins.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND