Does Exercise Enhance Creativity?

Posted: August 24, 2015 by Jaime Stenning

In this short 3 minute video Wendy Suzuki, author of Healthy Brain, Happy Life discusses the benefits of exercise and creativity.

“One of the most fascinating things about creativity is that the most recent studies are showing that it’s not just one side of the brain or the other side of the brain that everybody will tell you. It really is the most creative people are using both sides of the brain together.

Then the question is well how do I up my creativity? That’s what everybody is interested in.

Well there is exciting new evidence that one of the functions of the hippocampus, an area that we know is important for long-term memory is that it’s not only important for long-term memory but it’s critical for the function of imagination.

 

We know that exercise stimulates what we can neurogenesis or the birth of brand new brain cells in the hippocampus. But because of those brand new brain cells in my hippocampus I’m also enhancing my imagination. So the hypothesis that I’m working on in my lab is can exercise actually enhance creativity.”

So if you’re feeling stuck in a rut, need to get the creative juices flowing, grab your trainers and head outside for a run… you never know what genius ideas you may come up with!