This exercise is effective for stimulating the nervous system.

Research has proven that the nervous system like most other tissue can be stimulated to regenerate, we just have to find the most effective stimuli.

Exercise is one activity that has been found to be effective in stimulating the nervous system.

If you think about it, it is remarkable how many benefits a simple thing like exercise provides.

Exercise can, however, be many things, and not all exercises provide the same benefits.

This particular study compared two exercise protocols, both known to improve cardiovascular health, but here the effectiveness in raising brain-derived neurotrophic factor processes (BDNF)were tested (Saucedo Marquez CM, et al. 2015).

BDNF has shown to help support the survival of existing neurons, and encourage the growth and differentiation of new neurons.

One group of participants performed continuous exercise at 70% of maximal work for 20 minutes, and another group did high intensity interval training at 90% of maximal work for 1 minute with 1 minute of rest in between repetitions for 20 minutes. This was compared with a rest condition as a control.

Both exercise groups were found to increase BDNF levels compared to the the rest condition, but the high intensity exercise protocol was slightly more effective for elevating the BDNF levels.

73% of the participants also preferred this way of exercising.

High intensity short interval training has shown to also provide many other benefits, usually with much less time spent exercising.

This type of exercise can be performed different ways.

If you are going to exercise, why not do it the most effective way.

If you have not exercised in a while, you should gradually increase the intensity, and as with all exercises be sure you can tolerate it. Get advice from a competent health care professional in case you have any joint degeneration or any other medical condition.

Saucedo Marquez CM¹, Vanaudenaerde B², Troosters T³, Wenderoth N⁴. High-intensity interval training evokes larger serum BDNF levels compared with intense continuous exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015 Dec 15;119(12):1363-73. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00126.2015. Epub 2015 Oct 15.