How Your Brain Keeps Your Body Fit

Get-Fit Guy interviews neuroscientist Dr. Bob Schafer to learn how habits and mindfulness can improve our training

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I’ve been trying out various brain training regimens for a few years now. But lately, I’ve been really digging into a series of games that you play on your computer or mobile device for just a few minutes a day, every day, to boost your cognitive function. Or so it promises.

Lumos Labs conducted a randomized study of the Lumosity brain training system, and after ten weeks of training, the users improved their working memory, short term memory, processing speed, and overall cognitive function.

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Cognitive Function and Fitness

Personally, aside from it being fun to feel like I’m taking a multivitamin for my brain by playing videos games every day, Lumosity (and other brain training systems available) have been showing some promising advantages in the field of exercise and sport.

In a recent paper published in the Frontiers in Psychology, scientists investigated the role of cognition and neuroscience in understanding, predicting, and potentially improving elite sports performance. Although that particular paper stated “we caution around investing too heavily in such methods at this point in time” I feel like it is a no-lose situation. Even if it doesn’t help me bust out a faster time in my next triathlon, I am still doing something better for my brain than staring at reruns of The Simpsons.

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