Should we be cycling more often?
Should we be riding bikes for transportation instead of driving? Although most would rather drive than cycle for reasons such as weather, time, and more, cycling has many benefits. These benefits are not only related to physical health, but brain function and mental health as well.
Exercising results in an increase in neural processes which leads to semantic memory activation. Semantic memory is the long term that processes concepts of common knowledge, such as colors and letters. This means that, when you exercise you are activating this part of your memory, allowing you to recall and remember things better. Cycling builds a bigger and more connected brain. As you pedal, you are pumping oxygen and nutrients throughout your body which creates rich capillary beds in the brain’s gray matter, ultimately increasing the brain’s ability to grow, function, and repair itself. It also activates extra nerve cells which intensifies the creation of a protein called BDNF, which stimulates the formation of new brain cells. This results in a double or triple in the production of neurons, which are responsible for transmitting information to other nerve cells, and muscle and gland cells. In addition, it stimulates the hippocampus which plays a critical role in memory formation. Furthermore, it boosts the brain’s white matter, which is responsible for transmitting information between various parts of the body and the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex plays a key role in attention, perception, awareness, thought, memory, language, and consciousness. Overall, it alleviates stress, anxiety, and depression.
It also increases levels of leptin, a fat hormone that tells the brain when the body has enough energy. When leptin levels are low, you will have an extra boost of motivation for physical activity. There is also a release of norepinephrine, a stress hormone, and neurotransmitter, which sends signals between nerve cells, dopamine, a neurotransmitter that also controls movement and emotional response, endorphins, which help to cope with stress and reduce pain, anandamide, a mood enhancer, and serotonin, which stabilizes mood, the feeling of well being, and happiness helps the brain and nervous system cells to communicate and helps with sleep and digestion.
All in all, cycling has multiple benefits, especially if you do it consistently and over a long period of time. Although you might not notice the effects, they will definitely be there and help in the long run!
