I don’t doubt the greatness of physical fitness. Gladwell mentioned in his Ivy Leauge column the other day that athletes have a much higher rate of success post-college. And I bet that conversely, being intelligent makes you better at sports and exercising in general.
What started as a daily 2-mile walk became an ultraendurance lifestyle within a year—he once ran 63 miles nonstop in a charity race. Sure, his fitness level improved, but what he really noticed was that his brain was overflowing.
The data showed that the single 30-minute bout of cardio had two major effects on an electrical system of the brain called P3. First, the exercise session “decreased P3 latency,” which means subjects were able to process information faster. Second, Hillman found that the cardio session “increased P3 amplitude,” a measurement of brain activity related to memory and focus. So their aerobic exercise helped them concentrate better and recall information faster.
It’s like a wonder drug for the brain. Edward Hallowell, M.D
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