I’m Chieko Inoue from the S-BIO Business Division. Recently, I took part in a marathon event. While I had always been better at long-distance running than sprinting, it had been a full 20-plus years since I last ran seriously — and on top of that, the race was 10 kilometers. I was filled with anxiety, wondering, 'Can I really make it to the finish line?' Still, I started by buying a pair of running shoes, and about two months before the race, I began practicing with late-night runs around the outer perimeter of Osaka Castle. Once I actually got out there and started running, listening to my favorite music and going at my own pace, my anxiety quickly melted away — and before I knew it, running had become a genuinely enjoyable part of each day. When race day finally arrived, I crossed the 10-kilometer finish line with a smile, safe and sound! The sense of accomplishment from completing the run was immense, of course — but what surprised me even more was a different kind of change that came with developing a habit of running. In the course of everyday life, I began to notice, almost unexpectedly, a feeling of mental clarity and sustained concentration. Curious, I looked into it, and apparently the positive effects of aerobic exercise on brain function have been widely reported in recent years across the fields of neuroscience and exercise physiology. Aerobic exercise — running included — is even referred to in the worlds of medicine and brain science as a "natural antidepressant," and the following mechanisms are known to be involved:
Improved memory and learning efficiency (the hippocampus and BDNF)
Exercise is said to promote the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which stimulates neurogenesis in the hippocampus — the region responsible for memory and learning. For those who regularly process vast amounts of information and literature, this could be a powerful ally in boosting the efficiency of information intake.
Clearer thinking and better judgment (activation of the prefrontal cortex)
Increased blood flow activates the prefrontal cortex, which governs logical thinking and decision-making. It may be no coincidence that you often hear people say, "A hypothesis or idea I'd been stuck on no matter how long I sat at my desk suddenly clicked while I was out running."
Stress relief and mental refreshment (serotonin and dopamine)
Moving the body at a steady rhythm promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which stabilizes mood, and dopamine, which enhances motivation — naturally resetting the mental fatigue that builds up from long hours of desk work.
In today's world, where so much of our time is spent in front of a screen, thinking and processing — running again after 20 years has reminded me that moving the body might just be the greatest cognitive booster of all. If you ever find yourself thinking, 'My mind is going in circles' or 'I need to give my brain a reset,' why not lace up your favorite sneakers and head outside for a light jog in the fresh air? You might just find that an unexpected flash of inspiration rises up from beneath your feet.
