Recently I attended a talk presented by Dr. John Ratey , a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
The presentation, content and the afterthoughts were so compelling that I cannot resist sharing this information and enlist your serious feedback.
First, the topic: “STRONGER, FASTER, SMARTER, The Amazing Science of Exercise and the Brain”.
Second, the speaker: Dr. John Ratey is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In his entitled, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John Ratey presents new scientific evidence that exercise should be viewed as a medicine and that without appropriate levels of activity, our brains actually “shrivel.”
Last but not the least are my thoughts or the key take aways from the discussion.
Again, I paraphrase these in my simpleton terms. Scholars can pick up the book and dissect the medical terms, but here are the seven things which I learnt.
1. We are basically Hunter/Gatherers
Human beings are essentially hunter, gatherers. Just a few years back (around 10000 or so) we had to run 8-10 miles each and every day to get food. You did not move, you get did not get to eat. Only recently, particularly in the last 20 years or so we have created a society of gadgets and gizmos, of mashups and widgets where even my family of 4 are instant messaging each other to move from one room to another to get together for FOOD! (not true)We have created a social affliction called “sedentism” which has limited our physical movement and hence exploded our collective obesity. According to Dr. Ratey as many as 10 diseases, from blood sugar to blood pressure can be linked to obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Believe it or not, 20% (I mean 1 in 5) kids entering kindergarten are obese! Sigh!
2. Evolution of the brain
Over the years of human evolution, the back w8 so we have 2? say stuff clearly brain (the input source) has remained the same. It is the front portion which has gone through serious change which sets us apart from our ancestors. Most interesting amongst this is the “executive” portion of the front brain. The part which is responsible for organization, planning, learning from mistakes etc. Dr. ratey contends that the development of this executive portion is accelerated by exercise. Daily vigorous exercise. He gave charts and plots, examples and studies to prove this.Exercise is the “Miracle Grow” for the brain!
3. Exercise and Mental Acumen
Contrary to stereotype (I am speaking for myself), exercise does not make you a dunderhead. It sharpens your mental skills, your analytical abilities and processing power.“All things being equal, a physically active student has an advantage in learning; an inactive student is at a disadvantage for learning. Research even suggests that physical activity can impact student performance enough to elevate test scores”
4. Exercise and Depression
This I knew. Every time I exercise, I feel a high! Running is almost like a low grade drug for me. However, studies after studies have shown that you keep a group of patients in anti-depressants and a control group under exercise and the second beats the first. Also another trick which psyches use is to get an agitated patient for a walk. If they are still agitated you take them for another walk!Good to get a scientific validation!
5. Exercise and Education
Now this is interesting! Apparently kids who are exercising are not only making better grades (compared to when they were not), they are demonstrating more acumen and having much less behavioral issues. Data from schools after schools were presented to this effect. Most interesting is the Naperville School District which has made a serious commitment to FITNESS over last 20 years. The jaw dropping statistic was, overall US ranked 11th and 12th in math and Science when taking tests against other nations (Japan, Korea, Singapore are usually at the top). However, Naperville Central took the test as a country and came as #1 and #6.WOW!
6. Exercise and “NEW PE”
There is a difference between “sports” and “fitness”. Now this gets very close to my heart!Throughout our childhood, the “PE” class was a period of shame and agony for people like me. I was overweight, clumsy and lacked any skills in any sports whatsoever! I still have not gone far. However, the new PE is not about whether you are the fastest bowler, or the most daunting defender in football or someone who can hit aces after aces! PE is more of a competition with ones own self. Whether it is walking, running, swimming, biking, hiking, climbing, dancing or karate, just pick one and keep doing. Do it more, do it better and enjoy it to make it a part of your life.Just keep moving!
7. Conclusions
For me, it was a “milestone” lecture. I plan to study this, practice this and promote this.I thought I would share this with you, so that you exercise, you ask someone else to do the same. Whether it is a child, friend and even parent (oh yes, exercise is for ALL ages) request someone to do the same!
You can find Ratey’s Profile at: http://www.johnratey.com/newsite/profile.html
The presentation, content and the afterthoughts were so compelling that I cannot resist sharing this information and enlist your serious feedback.
First, the topic: “STRONGER, FASTER, SMARTER, The Amazing Science of Exercise and the Brain”.
Second, the speaker: Dr. John Ratey is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In his entitled, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John Ratey presents new scientific evidence that exercise should be viewed as a medicine and that without appropriate levels of activity, our brains actually “shrivel.”
Last but not the least are my thoughts or the key take aways from the discussion.
Again, I paraphrase these in my simpleton terms. Scholars can pick up the book and dissect the medical terms, but here are the seven things which I learnt.
1. We are basically Hunter/Gatherers
Human beings are essentially hunter, gatherers. Just a few years back (around 10000 or so) we had to run 8-10 miles each and every day to get food. You did not move, you get did not get to eat. Only recently, particularly in the last 20 years or so we have created a society of gadgets and gizmos, of mashups and widgets where even my family of 4 are instant messaging each other to move from one room to another to get together for FOOD! (not true)We have created a social affliction called “sedentism” which has limited our physical movement and hence exploded our collective obesity. According to Dr. Ratey as many as 10 diseases, from blood sugar to blood pressure can be linked to obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Believe it or not, 20% (I mean 1 in 5) kids entering kindergarten are obese! Sigh!
2. Evolution of the brain
Over the years of human evolution, the back w8 so we have 2? say stuff clearly brain (the input source) has remained the same. It is the front portion which has gone through serious change which sets us apart from our ancestors. Most interesting amongst this is the “executive” portion of the front brain. The part which is responsible for organization, planning, learning from mistakes etc. Dr. ratey contends that the development of this executive portion is accelerated by exercise. Daily vigorous exercise. He gave charts and plots, examples and studies to prove this.Exercise is the “Miracle Grow” for the brain!
3. Exercise and Mental Acumen
Contrary to stereotype (I am speaking for myself), exercise does not make you a dunderhead. It sharpens your mental skills, your analytical abilities and processing power.“All things being equal, a physically active student has an advantage in learning; an inactive student is at a disadvantage for learning. Research even suggests that physical activity can impact student performance enough to elevate test scores”
4. Exercise and Depression
This I knew. Every time I exercise, I feel a high! Running is almost like a low grade drug for me. However, studies after studies have shown that you keep a group of patients in anti-depressants and a control group under exercise and the second beats the first. Also another trick which psyches use is to get an agitated patient for a walk. If they are still agitated you take them for another walk!Good to get a scientific validation!
5. Exercise and Education
Now this is interesting! Apparently kids who are exercising are not only making better grades (compared to when they were not), they are demonstrating more acumen and having much less behavioral issues. Data from schools after schools were presented to this effect. Most interesting is the Naperville School District which has made a serious commitment to FITNESS over last 20 years. The jaw dropping statistic was, overall US ranked 11th and 12th in math and Science when taking tests against other nations (Japan, Korea, Singapore are usually at the top). However, Naperville Central took the test as a country and came as #1 and #6.WOW!
6. Exercise and “NEW PE”
There is a difference between “sports” and “fitness”. Now this gets very close to my heart!Throughout our childhood, the “PE” class was a period of shame and agony for people like me. I was overweight, clumsy and lacked any skills in any sports whatsoever! I still have not gone far. However, the new PE is not about whether you are the fastest bowler, or the most daunting defender in football or someone who can hit aces after aces! PE is more of a competition with ones own self. Whether it is walking, running, swimming, biking, hiking, climbing, dancing or karate, just pick one and keep doing. Do it more, do it better and enjoy it to make it a part of your life.Just keep moving!
7. Conclusions
For me, it was a “milestone” lecture. I plan to study this, practice this and promote this.I thought I would share this with you, so that you exercise, you ask someone else to do the same. Whether it is a child, friend and even parent (oh yes, exercise is for ALL ages) request someone to do the same!
You can find Ratey’s Profile at: http://www.johnratey.com/newsite/profile.html
In case you want to watch his lecture in full here it is: Lecture at Google
Best Regards and Best Wishes, Somnath
