What's better for your brain - 15 minutes of jogging or 15 minutes of relaxation?

a post by Paul Ratner for the Big Think blog

• Researchers compared jogging versus relaxing for 15 minutes.
• Jogging provided clear cognitive and mood benefits.
• The relaxing group had much less energy.

If you wanted a quick boost for your mind, what's the best activity to engage in? Scientists looked at whether a brief relaxation or a jog would boost your cognition and have a definitive winner. Lace up your sneakers!

There's already been evidence that brief aerobic exercise that's not too intense like a jog or a walk can provide an instant boost to how your mind functions. Its speed and attentional control, as well as your mood will be beneficially affected. Now a new study involving 101 undergraduate students found that emotional effects of exercise bring specific cognitive benefits.

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