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Samyuktha Shanthakumar

Mrs. Ginger McClendon

Prosper Career Independent Study

17 February 2024

Evidence of Learning: The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise

For my final Evidence of Learning assignment, I watched a TED Talk about how

exercise can change one’s brain for the better. The speaker of the TED Talk, Wendy Suzuki, a

professor of neuroscience, began the talk by sharing her experience with exercise and how it

changed her. Dr. Suzuki had changed to a new research program that made her highly busy and

immersed in researching and analyzing large flows of data day after day. After many years, Dr.

Suzuki realized she was out of shape due to her sedentary lifestyle. Displeased by this

realization, she decided to go on a river rafting trip, and when she came back, she felt that she

was the weakest person on the trip. That’s when Dr. Suzuki resolved to exercise more to improve

her physical health and participated in various workout classes. Though she felt it was incredibly

difficult at first, she realized that after each workout session, she experienced great mood and

energy boosts. After exercising regularly for a year, Dr. Suzuki found that she could focus and

maintain her attention for longer.

This revelation motivated her research into the effects of exercise on the brain. She

studied much of the existing literature on this topic and conducted her own experiments. She

found that a single workout session will immediately increase one’s mood as exercise increases

neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels. These neurotransmitters

drastically increase focus, boost mood, and improve reaction time for over two hours. Dr. Suzuki
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then explains that exercise affects the hippocampus by creating new brain cells and increasing

the volume of the complex brain structure. Exercise also increases the volume of the prefrontal

cortex, which is responsible for memory, focus, and cognition. Consistent and adequate exercise

strengthens these brain structures, making them less susceptible to the effects of Alzheimer’s and

Dementia. This shows that exercise doesn’t only help a person in the present but also in the far

future if one is consistent.

I have been quite busy with many assignments and projects throughout my Junior year.

I’ve spent nearly all my time and energy trying to do my best in these tasks that I forget to take

care of my body. Watching this TED Talk reminded me how important exercise is and motivated

me to work out frequently. For the past week, I have been running two miles daily and reaped the

benefits of improved mood and focus. I have also observed how, even on days when I arrive

home exhausted, a simple but sweat-inducing workout session energizes me more than a nap

would. With my newfound knowledge about the benefits of exercise, I will be sure to exercise

consistently throughout my career journey to focus better and efficiently, work on complex tasks,

and improve my mood to have a better attitude.

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Works Cited

Suzuki, Wendy. “The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise | Wendy Suzuki.” YouTube, 21 Mar.

2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHY0FxzoKZE.