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4 min read<\/p>\n4 min read<\/p>\n
Ever blurt something out and instantly wish you could take it back? That kind of impulsivity<\/a> is totally normal\u2014but it\u2019s also something you can train.<\/p>\n New research in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise<\/a> suggests exercise may be one way to boost that self-control. Specifically, researchers found that an aerobic activity<\/a> protocol improved inhibitory control, which is the ability to suppress impulsive reactions and behaviors in favor of deliberate responses.<\/p>\n If you’ve ever fired off a hasty text, made a snap decision, or said something a little too honest, this is definitely worth considering. Here\u2019s what the workout routine involved, plus how it may work for you.<\/p>\n Meet the experts: <\/strong>Tomasz Lig\u0119za, PhD<\/a>, is the study co-author, a psychologist, and researcher at the Institute of Psychology at Jagiellonian University. Jeffrey Edwards, PhD<\/a>, is a researcher and director of Neuroscience at Brigham Young University. <\/p>\n What did the study find?<\/strong><\/p>\n For the study, researchers split 62 sedentary young adults into two groups. One group stayed inactive, while the other did the following routine:<\/p>\n During the study, the researchers tracked participants\u2019 inhibitory control with something called a \u201cflanker test<\/a>,\u201d which is a psychological test that evaluates your ability to ignore unnecessary information and hone in on relevant info. <\/p>\n The researchers discovered that people in the workout group had a gradual increase in that inhibitory control, while those in the control group saw a drop in the overall accuracy of their testing responses. The decline could be because the task was cognitively challenging. “The task is quite demanding and can become tiring or demotivating when repeated,” says Tomasz Lig\u0119za, PhD<\/a>, study co-author, psychologist, and researcher at the Institute of Psychology at Jagiellonian University. “Exercise may have helped the training group maintain engagement and focus, preventing this decline.”<\/p>\n Ultimately, the researchers note: \u201cThese findings highlight the potential of exercise programs as an accessible and effective strategy for improving cognitive health, especially in healthy but sedentary adults.”<\/p>\n Why might this exercise routine help people focus more?<\/strong><\/p>\n Lig\u0119za points out that other research suggests that regular aerobic exercise supports brain health. \u201cOver time, exercise increases cardiovascular fitness, which improves blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain,\u201d he explains. This also stimulates the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth and maintenance of brain cells, Lig\u0119za says.<\/p>\n\n