Logan Steele
The brain is often compared to a muscle, and we are told to treat it like one. But is it really a muscle? While the brain may feel like a muscle that we flex throughout the day, it is not a muscle. It is an organ that plays a huge role in controlling muscles throughout the body.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The brain is a muscle | False |
| The brain is like a muscle | True |
| The brain needs exercise | True |
| Excessive TV watching reduces brain activity | True |
| Reading and puzzles improve brain activity | True |
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What You'll Learn
The brain is not a muscle, but it can be worked like one
Studies have shown that people who watch excessive amounts of TV have less active brain cells than someone who reads or does puzzles on a consistent basis. The more you exercise your brain, the more you force yourself to think and problem solve, which is better for your mental health. When you get a high level of exercise for your brain, it can actually release endorphins which are credited with helping a person to feel better.
In a New York magazine story, Pro Bronson and Ashley Merryman detailed an experiment where a teacher was able to impact math scores by having children read out loud a scientific paper on how the brain is a muscle that will respond to exercise. The knowledge of this opportunity encouraged students to work harder and a new improved trend was established.
The idea that the brain is like a muscle has received a lot of attention since the famous ferret experiment in 2000, which proved that the brain is basically tissue that can be called to action for any purpose.
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The brain is made of tissue, not muscle
While the brain may feel like a muscle, it is not one. The brain is made of tissue, not muscle. However, like a muscle, the brain requires exercise to stay healthy. Studies have shown that people who watch excessive amounts of TV have less active brain cells than those who read or do puzzles. The more you exercise your brain, the more you force yourself to think and problem solve, which is better for your mental health.
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The brain needs exercise
Although the brain is not technically a muscle, it does need exercise to stay healthy and function at its best. In fact, the brain is often compared to a muscle because it can be flexed and worked like one.
Studies have shown that people who watch excessive amounts of TV have less active brain cells than those who read or do puzzles regularly. Exercising your brain forces you to think and problem solve, which is beneficial for your mental health. When you exercise your brain, it can even release endorphins, which are known to help people feel better.
The idea that the brain is like a muscle has received a lot of attention in the world of neuroscience since the famous ferret experiment in 2000, which proved that the brain is basically tissue that can be called to action for any purpose.
So, just like your body, your brain needs exercise to stay fit and healthy.
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Reading and doing puzzles can help keep your brain healthy
Although the brain is not a muscle, it can be worked like one. Reading and doing puzzles can help keep your brain healthy and functioning at its best. Studies have shown that people who watch excessive amounts of TV have less active brain cells than someone who reads or does puzzles on a consistent basis. The more you exercise your brain, the more you force yourself to think and problem solve, which is better for your mental health. When you get a high level of exercise for your brain, it can actually release endorphins which are credited with helping a person to feel better.
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Watching excessive TV can have a negative impact on brain health
Although the brain is not technically a muscle, it can be worked like one. Studies have shown that people who watch excessive amounts of TV have less active brain cells than someone who reads or does puzzles. This is because too much screen time can impact our health in a myriad of ways, from eye strain and neck pain to social isolation and mental health, and in some cases, it may cause harm to our brains.
A 2023 study suggests that excessive TV-watching, defined as four or more hours a day, is associated with a higher risk of developing brain-based disorders such as dementia, depression, and Parkinson's disease. The study, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that participants who watched four or more hours of TV daily had a 28% higher risk of dementia, a 35% greater risk of depression, and a 16% higher risk of Parkinson's disease.
Excessive TV-watching can also lead to reduced amounts of cranial gray matter—home to the neurons that perform the bulk of our mental processing. Ryan Dougherty, a postdoctoral fellow in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, led a study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior suggesting that individuals who watched about an hour and a half more daily television than their peers throughout mid-to-late adulthood saw their brain volume reduced by approximately 0.5%.
Exercising your brain through activities such as reading or doing puzzles can help keep your brain healthy and functioning at its best. Studies have shown that the more you exercise your brain, the better it is for your mental health. When you get a high level of exercise for your brain, it can release endorphins which are credited with helping a person to feel better.
Frequently asked questions
No, the brain is not a muscle. It is an organ.
The brain is like a muscle in the sense that it can be exercised and stimulated to improve its function.
A 2013 study found that young adults who played a brain-training game showed improved cognitive function, including working memory, problem-solving and the ability to recall information.
Exercising your brain can mean doing activities that challenge it, such as word puzzles and games.
Yes, physical exercise is good for the brain.
