Comments on: Science in Action: A Puzzle http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/ Self-Experimentation, Scientific Method, the Shangri-La Diet, etc. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:20:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Seth’s blog » Blog Archive » Science in Action: Exercise (confirmation) http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-41302 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:42:27 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-41302 [...] Science in Action: A Puzzle [...] […] Science in Action: A Puzzle […]

]]> by: Willy http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39756 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:31:48 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39756 How interesting knackeredhack, too bad I hate cold showers. Maybe hot increase circulation and cold increases norepinephrine and stimulates you. How interesting knackeredhack, too bad I hate cold showers.

Maybe hot increase circulation and cold increases norepinephrine and stimulates you.

]]> by: On Walking « Two Newtons http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39579 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:28:48 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39579 [...] On Walking September 3rd, 2007 I love to walk and I won’t be surprised if someday soon walking is crowned as king of exercise. Not running. Not cycling. Not StairMaster. Walking. It’s easy on the body and and appears to be good for the brain. [...] […] On Walking September 3rd, 2007 I love to walk and I won’t be surprised if someday soon walking is crowned as king of exercise. Not running. Not cycling. Not StairMaster. Walking. It’s easy on the body and and appears to be good for the brain. […]

]]> by: peter http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39573 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:47:12 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39573 art de vany would probably say that your brain would work better after a short intense burst of activity, i.e., sprinting. art de vany would probably say that your brain would work better after a short intense burst of activity, i.e., sprinting.

]]> by: Timothy Beneke http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39569 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:04:21 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39569 I was a runner when I was younger and am now a big brisk walker; I've never gotten the same "high" from walking that I once got from running. A comment on showers: it is clear to me that taking hot showers, probably by increasing blood flow to the brain, causes more mental activity -- I will have flurry of thought, association, memory in my consciousness when I take showers. Descartes liked to think with his head near stove; he claimed it activated brain activity. Anyway, showers may be a confound worth considering. My guess is that people tend to sing in the shower because the brain is activated there. I was a runner when I was younger and am now a big brisk walker; I’ve never gotten the same “high” from walking that I once got from running.

A comment on showers: it is clear to me that taking hot showers, probably by increasing blood flow to the brain, causes more mental activity — I will have flurry of thought, association, memory in my consciousness when I take showers. Descartes liked to think with his head near stove; he claimed it activated brain activity. Anyway, showers may be a confound worth considering. My guess is that people tend to sing in the shower because the brain is activated there.

]]> by: knackeredhack http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39563 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:17:23 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39563 Seth, as I think I mentioned before, you might want at some point to try "intervals" of cold shower bursts. Athletes use contrast bathing to speed recovery, and I'm confident it has an effect on cognitive function. Three intervals of 30 seconds each of warm vs cold was the recommendation of the physios at Bath University Sports Training Village, who look after some of our leading international competitors, including the England Rugby team, some of whom reportedly go in for more extreme exposure to cold. I've been doing this consistently and almost daily since June/July and am satisfied of the benefits. I believe mood, cognition and dealing with stress have all been better as a result. There was one week when I could not cold shower and did not always feel so fresh. Some research has been done on the effects of cold on mental function and is mentioned here:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/4172097.stm Of course, Seneca got there before us all on this one. Seth, as I think I mentioned before, you might want at some point to try “intervals” of cold shower bursts. Athletes use contrast bathing to speed recovery, and I’m confident it has an effect on cognitive function. Three intervals of 30 seconds each of warm vs cold was the recommendation of the physios at Bath University Sports Training Village, who look after some of our leading international competitors, including the England Rugby team, some of whom reportedly go in for more extreme exposure to cold.

I’ve been doing this consistently and almost daily since June/July and am satisfied of the benefits. I believe mood, cognition and dealing with stress have all been better as a result. There was one week when I could not cold shower and did not always feel so fresh.

Some research has been done on the effects of cold on mental function and is mentioned here:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/4172097.stm

Of course, Seneca got there before us all on this one.

]]> by: Tom http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39561 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:11:54 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39561 another interesting study: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/25/38/8680 another interesting study:

http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/25/38/8680

]]> by: Tom http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39560 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:08:56 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39560 A couple of anecdotal suggestions: With me, I definitely feel sharper after exercise, but also not immediately after. I may feel duller for a couple of hours, but much more alert and "on top of it" about six hours later. This happens both on days where I do my 'sprint' training (absolute max. effort for 30 seconds alternated with 3 minutes fast walking, repeated several times) or my resistance exercise (very heavy weights, slow cadence, one set to failure.) Second, I agree with Willy that walking will give you little effect...it's not really exercise. Finally, the NY Times recently ran an article on recent research that exercise increases the formation of new brain cells, even in the elderly: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-brain.html A couple of anecdotal suggestions:

With me, I definitely feel sharper after exercise, but also not immediately after. I may feel duller for a couple of hours, but much more alert and “on top of it” about six hours later. This happens both on days where I do my ’sprint’ training (absolute max. effort for 30 seconds alternated with 3 minutes fast walking, repeated several times) or my resistance exercise (very heavy weights, slow cadence, one set to failure.)

Second, I agree with Willy that walking will give you little effect…it’s not really exercise.

Finally, the NY Times recently ran an article on recent research that exercise increases the formation of new brain cells, even in the elderly:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-brain.html

]]> by: Willy http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39555 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:32:44 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2007/09/03/science-in-action-a-puzzle/#comment-39555 Hi. I would try running. I think it is aerobic exercise like running which improves mood and cognition (with time). Maybe walking is not strong enough. Hi. I would try running. I think it is aerobic exercise like running which improves mood and cognition (with time). Maybe walking is not strong enough.

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