Physical exercise and the brain

The concept of physical exercise being inexplicably linked to the healthy mind predates modern medicine itself. The great philosopher Socrates (470-399 B.C.) often spoke of the overarching benefits of physical activity, saying, "Surely a person of sense would submit to anything, like exercise, so as to obtain a well-functioning mind and a pleasant, happy life" (www.hiddendominion.com/socrates-quotes-on-physical-fitness). The Buddha (563-483 B.C.) also saw the cognitive importance of physical fitness, famously saying, "To keep the body in good health is a duty; otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear" (Lu and Ahmed 2010, p. 378). Contemporary great thinkers have further speculated on this mind-body connection, with perhaps the most specific quote coming from President John F. Kennedy: "Physical fitness is not only the key to a healthy body; it is also the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity" (Kotecki 2011, p. 210).