Walking the Brainy Path

Lucy, our bipedal ancestor, marked a significant revolution in neuro-anatomy.  Given that we finally compartmentalized our anatomy half-wise, with the legs now exclusively for travel and hands free to finagle, tool making was born.  So too grew marked accomplishments in language around 75,000 years ago, another useful tool for our early ancestors.

As we began walking on foot and making larger strides in tool making, a new kind of group mind emerged according to University of Colorado at Boulder archeologists.  Art, or cultural achievements, were evidence of this new form of mind emergence.

Next time you take a step in those new Nike Air’s, or tap that iPhone screen, consider the long journey our minds made to reach this level of achievement.

Also, while walking the brainy path, remember that to stave off mental decline, such footsteps still are the fundamental exercise for a youthful brain.  See the earlier blog entry, Walk Away, The Default Won’t Stay, for more detail on why walking is so good for the brain.

Another good article for the weight and brain conscious is this little gem from USA Today: Weight loss improves memory, research shows.  In it, research focused in on memory and organizational skill  with substantial increases after weight loss surgery.  Another great reason to exercise as a path to mental youth and wellness.