As most of you know, I’ve been a huge proponent of regular cardio exercise as a key support strategy for us hunter-types (people with ADHD).
A new study from the Journal of Physiology demonstrates that cardio exercise indeed increases dopamine levels.
It’s been long known that exercise can improve cognitive performance, but the exact mechanism wasn’t fully understood. Although, there is still more research to be done, this new study highlights the process by which the release of dopamine in the brain directly correlates to improved cognitive performance.
Why this matters for us:
Dopamine (and dopamine receptors) play a large role in our daily cognitive functioning. Increase in cardio activity (ideally 15 min a day) can potentially reduce brain fog and increase our ability to handle tasks that involve executive functioning. Those mundane tasks can get easier with a daily dose of cardio exercise.
Science is starting to catch up with what most of us have known for quite some time.
To read the entire article in PSY POST, go here.
You can read the study details here: “The neuromodulatory role of dopamine in improved reaction time by acute cardiovascular exercise”