Did you know that a short walk often gives you more energy than a cup of coffee? Exercise not only activates your body, but also your brain, memory, and ability to concentrate.
In this article, you will learn why exercise plays such an important role in the neuroplasticity of our brain and receive tips on how you can promote it.
What happens in our brain when we move?
Exercise not only activates our muscles and circulation, but also ensures that our brain can run at full speed. As soon as we engage in physical activity, blood flow to the brain increases, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach our nerve cells. This improved supply makes the brain more efficient and receptive.
When we exercise, our body triggers a series of neurochemical processes: increased levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins are released, which lift our mood, reduce feelings of stress, and improve our ability to concentrate.
Movement also has an impressive effect on the brain at a structural level:
It acts as a natural training stimulus and stimulates the release of the protein BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) which supports neuroplasticity.BDNF is a key neurotransmitter that is essential for learning processes, memory formation, and the development of new nerve cells.
Neuroplasticity and the importance of exercise
Our brain's ability to change and adapt throughout our lives is called neuroplasticity. Thanks to this process, we are able to learn new skills, store memories, and recover from cognitive injuries such as strokes. The brain is not a rigid organ, but rather a dynamic network that responds to external stimuli and experiences. One of the strongest stimuli that triggers this adaptation process is movement.
With the Aeris Active Office, consisting of a height-adjustable Aeris Active Desk, an ergonomic office chair, and the Aeris Muvmat anti-fatigue mat, you can stay active while working at your desk.
Any kind of physical activity, whether it be sports or even moderate everyday movement, triggers the release of growth factor BDNF. This promotes the growth of new nerve cells, supports the connection of existing synapses, and protects neural structures from degradation. This process particularly activates the regions of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, and problem solving:
The hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex:
- The hippocampus is the center for learning and memory in our brain.
- The prefrontal cortex is responsible for attention, decision-making, and impulse control.
Movement and concentration: The effect on the brain
In the long term, physical activity not only leads to short-term peaks in concentration, but also to structural changes in the brain. People who exercise regularly have greater control over their attention and are often better at remembering things.
💡 A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine in 2013 shows that just 20 minutes of moderate endurance exercise per day is enough to raise BDNF levels, thereby laying one of the most important foundations for improved memory performance. In addition, it was found that exercise can increase BDNF levels by an average of 32%, while inactivity led to a reduction of about 13%.
Since BDNF plays a central role in learning processes and memory formation, these results underscore how crucial even short periods of exercise can be for mental performance.
These findings are relevant not only for athletes, but also for schoolchildren, students, and working professionals:
Regular exercise creates the best conditions for productive learning and creative thinking—even when sitting down hours later.
How to promote neuroplasticity in your brain: Dynamic sitting with Aeris
🚨 "Immobility prevents an optimal brain function"
This clear statement by Prof. Dr. Gerald Hüther sums up what modern brain research has long confirmed:
Our brain needs exercise to reach its full potential.
This idea is deeply rooted in our product philosophy at Aeris. We develop solutions that bring movement back into everyday life and actively combat the lack of exercise in the office in particular.
Exercise in everyday working life is not just a nice-to-have—it is a game changer for our brains. It promotes concentration, increases learning ability, and supports long-term memory performance. This does not mean intensive training like at the gym, but rather regular, moderate exercise in everyday life. And this is exactly where our products come in, bringing more healthy dynamism to everyday sitting and working.
The unique Aeris 3D technology enables dynamic movements in all directions. The gentle rocking motion stimulates oxygen supply to the brain and improves learning and performance.
With ergonomic office chairs such as th Aeris Swopper, the Aeris 3Dee or the Aeris Numo Task Aeris enables a completely new sitting experience: Instead of remaining still, the body is kept in subtle motion. Micro-movements in all directions ensure that the muscles are continuously active, which has a positive effect on brain activity.
💡 With our newest member of the Aeris family, the Aeris Linu office and conference chair, we have taken our proven technology to the next level: the new Aeris Flex kinematics, together with the spring strut, ensure a gentle up and down movement that stimulates blood flow, boosts circulation, and thus increases concentration and performance.
The new Aeris Linu with suspension moves with you in all directions, stimulating your brain activity.
Whether in companies, home offices, or educational institutions, Aeris products promote an active, movement-oriented lifestyle in the midst of everyday work. Movement can not only prevent a drop in performance, but also unleash new creative impulses.
Train your brain through exercise
They run, climb, bounce, spin around – not because they are restless, but because they are driven by an inner urge. At a young age, children's bodies actively seek out stimuli in order to develop their brains. At no other stage of life do we develop as quickly and comprehensively as in the first few years of life, and at no other stage is the urge for physical activity so strong. Physical activity in childhood is a prerequisite for cognitive maturation, language development and social skills.
What children actively experience with their bodies stays in their minds better:
Movement-based experiences are stored more deeply in the memory because they are linked to several senses at the same time. This means that vocabulary in foreign language lessons, multiplication tables and other things that are learned through movement, rhythm or gestures are demonstrably easier to remember.
This is because our brain stores and links this information twice: once via movement (motor skills) and once via thinking (cognition). This creates particularly stable memory traces that are reinforced through repetition and are subsequently easier to recall.
The conclusion is clear: sitting still is not a natural state – especially for children. If you want to enable development, you have to allow movement. Whether in the nursery, the classroom or everyday life: spaces that encourage movement are spaces that encourage learning.
The ergonomic Aeris Swoppster children's desk chair promotes children's physical and mental development.
That's why we developed the Aeris Swoppster echildren's desk chair, which promotes healthy sitting from the very beginning. Thanks to its flexible height adjustment, it is designed for growth spurts and will accompany your child from nursery to school. The desk chair for children grows with them and is suitable for children weighing 15 kg to 50 kg and up to a height of approx. 160 cm.
💡5 tips to help you remember things better
1. Moderate exercise before studying
Get your BDNF levels up! Just 10 minutes of endurance exercise before your next study session can help you concentrate better and remember things more easily.
2. Learning walks
Take your learning content with you on a walk! For example, record it on your mobile phone beforehand and listen to it like a podcast, or use flashcards that you can read aloud to yourself while walking to help you memorise them better.
3. Linking learning content to body movements
The so-called "method-of-loci-principle" uses spatial thinking to improve memory. For example, use different places in the room or paths in your flat to link your learning content with movement routes. E.g. maths formulas at the window, vocabulary at the door, etc.
4. Learning to the rhythm
Recite words, definitions or number sequences rhythmically while walking, rocking or jumping. This works particularly well on an ergonomic office chair such as the Aeris Swopper, which allows you to bounce up and down while sitting. The rhythm helps to structure content more easily and anchor it in your long-term memory.
5. Targeted exercise breaks
After 20-30 minutes of studying, get up, stretch or walk around a bit. This will get your circulation going and help you consolidate what you have learned.
Why exercise improves our ability to learn
The most important information summarised for you:
- Increased blood circulation:
Exercise promotes the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, which increases concentration and memory. - Release of messenger substances:
Exercise activates neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline, which increase alertness and motivation. - Promotion of neuroplasticity:
Exercise increases the release of the growth factor BDNF, which builds new neural connections that are crucial for our ability to learn. - stress reduction:
Exercise reduces the stress hormone cortisol – an often underestimated barrier to learning – and promotes inner calm. - Improved cognitive flexibility:
Regular exercise trains the ability to switch between thought processes and improves problem-solving skills.
Exercise is not only essential for keeping our bodies fit, but also our brains. Whether for better memory, increased concentration or creative thinking: those who exercise regularly create the best conditions for sustainable learning and mental performance.
Especially in everyday life, which is often characterised by long periods of sitting, it makes a real difference when exercise is not neglected. That is precisely why we at Aeris develop furniture that automatically encourages more movement in everyday working life. For greater concentration, better ideas and a brain that stays alert.
