It might not take an all-out sprint or long trail run to lift your mood and sharpen focus, according to a new study.A small new study out of the University of Tsukuba in Japan looked at 24 healthy young adults who completed a slow, 10-minute run on the treadmill in one session and rested in another.After the easy jog, participants performed faster on a test of attention and self-control and reported feeling more alert and pleasant than they did after the resting phase, according to the study, which was published in the journal Imaging Neuroscience in August.'PERFECT' WORKOUT FORMULA CAN TAKE JUST 10 MINUTES A DAY, HILARIA BALDWIN SAYSBrain monitoring after the jog also showed more activity in parts of the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for focus and decision-making.A small study suggests even a brief, easy jog may offer a short-term boost in mood and focus.(iStock)The jog was purposely kept easy, with participants going at speeds from 1.9 to 3.7 mph on the treadmill.
Their average heart rates clocked in at 105 to 107 beats per minute.SIMPLE BODY MOVEMENT COULD HELP THE BRAIN 'CLEAN ITSELF,' RESEARCHERS FIND"A single bout of running, even at very slow speed, elicits a pleasant mood and improved executive function," the researchers found.They added that the finding "sheds light on the slow running benefits to brain health."Even gentle movement can provide a mental reset, though the study’s findings were limited to one short session.(iStock)JUST 10 MINUTES OF DAILY FLOOR EXERCISES MAY IMPROVE BALANCE AND AGILITY, STUDY FINDSThe benefits, they noted, stuck around even after participants' heart rates returned to baseline.The greater the up-and-down head movement during the jog, the more positive participants' mood was afterward, though that finding was exploratory and does not necessarily prove cause and effect.5 COMMON WALKING MISTAKES THAT COULD HURT YOUR PROGRESS, ACCORDING TO AN EXPERT"Easy movement triggers the norepinephrine and dopamine p...