A short jog can temporarily boost the brain's executive functions, which are involved in attention, self-control, and decision-making. Just ten minutes of very slow running may be enough to improve mood and enhance the efficiency of these brain functions, according to researchers, as reported by infohub.kz.
In the experiment, participants were asked to run on a treadmill for 10 minutes at a speed of about 3–6 km/h. This pace is close to normal walking and corresponds to very light physical exertion.
Before and immediately after the exercise, volunteers completed the Stroop test, which assesses executive brain functions, and reported their emotional state. Meanwhile, researchers monitored brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.
After the 10-minute run, participants performed tasks requiring cognitive control faster and reported improved mood. At the same time, researchers observed increased activity in specific areas of the prefrontal cortex involved in executive functions and emotion regulation.
Additionally, scientists noted a link between the nature of movements during running and emotional state. The more pronounced the vertical head movements of participants, the more noticeable their mood improvement.
The researchers believe that even running at a very slow pace can have a short-term positive effect on brain function with minimal physical exertion.
However, they emphasize that the experiment only assessed the immediate effect of a single 10-minute run. Therefore, it remains unknown how long these changes last and whether regular slow running could provide additional benefits for cognitive functions.