A Healthy Brain

Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang wrote a NYTimes piece recently on the benefits of physical exercise for the “executive function” of your brain, which Aamodt and Wang characterize as “the set of abilities that allows you to select behavior that’s appropriate to the situation, inhibit inappropriate behavior and focus on the job at hand in spite of distractions.”   Executive function relies on features like processing speed, response speed and working memory.  Apparently studies indicate that physical activity, especially for the elderly, can significantly improve executive functioning. The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia has an online exhibit about the brain, including an overview of the impact of exercise on the brain.