These sweaty pics are from when Emily and I went on a sunset run to the Eiffel tower (only about a mile from our apartment). The sky was pink and everyone was in awe at the tour d’eiffel’s beauty. Next to everyone dressed up for photo shoots, I felt like a local. Even though my runs through Paris haven’t been frequent, they’ve all been beautiful. We’ve all heard that running induces your brain to release endorphins, but what other neurological changes does running facilitate? According to a number of studies, running promotes cell proliferation in the brain (Rhodes et al., 2003; Van et al., 1999). While it is still debated whether this neurogenesis facilitates general learning or improvement of motor control, it’s clear that running helps your brain…and see more of Paris.
Rhodes, J. S., Van Praag, H., Jeffrey, S., Girard, I., Mitchell, G. S., Garland Jr, T., & Gage, F. H. (2003). Exercise increases hippocampal neurogenesis to high levels but does not improve spatial learning in mice bred for increased voluntary wheel running. Behavioral neuroscience, 117(5), 1006.
Van Praag, H., Kempermann, G., & Gage, F. H. (1999). Running increases cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the adult mouse dentate gyrus. Nature neuroscience, 2(3), 266.