Did you know that a short walk often gets you going better than a cup of coffee? Movement not only activates your body, but also your brain, your memory, and your ability to concentrate.
In this article, you will learn why movement plays such a relevant role in the neuroplasticity of our brain and get tips on how to promote it.
What happens in our brain when we move?
Movement not only activates our muscles and circulation, but also ensures that our brain can work at full capacity. 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.
During movement, our body sets in motion a series of neurochemical processes: increased release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which lift our mood, reduce stress, and improve our concentration.
Movement also has an impressive structural effect on the brain:
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 central messenger substance that is essential for learning processes, memory formation, and the development of new nerve cells.
Neuroplasticity and the importance of movement
The brain's lifelong ability to change and adapt is called neuroplasticity. Thanks to this process, we are able to learn new skills, store memories, or recover from cognitive injuries such as a stroke. The brain is not a rigid organ, but a dynamic network that reacts to external stimuli and experiences. One of the strongest stimuli that initiates 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 always stay in motion when working at your desk.
During any type of physical activity, be it sports or even moderate daily movement, the growth factor BDNF is released. This promotes the growth of new nerve cells, supports the connection of existing synapses, and protects neuronal structures from degradation. The brain regions responsible for memory, learning, attention, and problem-solving are particularly activated by this process:
The hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex:
- The hippocampus forms 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 can therefore not only lead to short-term concentration peaks, but also to structural changes in the brain. People who exercise regularly have higher attention control and can often remember things better.
💡 A study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine from 2013 shows that just 20 minutes of moderate endurance exercise per day is enough to raise BDNF levels and thus create 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 underline how crucial even short exercise sessions can be for mental performance.
These findings are not only relevant for athletes, but also for students, university students, or professionals:
Those who exercise regularly create the best conditions for productive learning and creative thinking – even while sitting, hours later.
How to promote your brain's neuroplasticity: Dynamic sitting with Aeris
🚨 "Immobility does not allow optimal brain function"
This clear statement from Prof. Dr. Gerald Hüther sums up what modern brain research has long confirmed:
Our brain needs movement to unfold its full potential.
Precisely this idea is deeply embedded in our product philosophy at Aeris. We develop solutions that bring movement back into everyday life and actively combat the lack of movement in the office in particular.
Movement in everyday work is not a nice-to-have – it's a game-changer for our brain. It promotes concentration, increases learning ability, and supports long-term memory performance. This is not about intensive training like in a gym, but about regular, moderate movement in everyday life. And this is exactly where our products come in to bring more healthy dynamics into daily sitting and working.
The unique Aeris 3D technology enables dynamic movements in all directions. The gentle rocking up and down stimulates oxygen supply to the brain and ensures better learning and performance capabilities.
With ergonomic office chairs such as the Aeris Swopper, the Aeris 3Dee or the Aeris Numo Task, Aeris enables a completely new sitting behavior: instead of remaining still, the body is subtly kept in 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 office and conference chair Aeris Linu, we have taken our proven technology to the next level: The new Aeris Flex kinematics, together with the gas spring, ensure a gentle up-and-down swing that stimulates blood circulation, gets the circulation going, and thus increases concentration and performance.
The new Aeris Linu in the version with a gas spring moves with you in all directions and thus stimulates your brain activity.
Whether in companies, in the home office or in educational institutions – Aeris products promote an active, movement-oriented lifestyle right in the middle of the working day. This way, movement can not only prevent performance drops, but even unleash new creative impulses.
Train your brain through movement
They run, climb, rock, spin in circles – not out of restlessness, but out of an inner drive. At a young age, children's bodies actively seek stimuli to develop the brain. At no other point in life do we develop as quickly and comprehensively as in the first years of life, and at no other point is the urge for physical activity so great. Movement in childhood serves as a prerequisite for cognitive maturation, language development, and social competence.
What children actively experience with their bodies stays better in their minds:
Movement-based experiences are stored more deeply because they are linked to several senses at the same time. Thus, vocabulary in foreign language classes, multiplication tables, or other things learned with movement, rhythm, or gestures can demonstrably be remembered better.
This is because our brain stores and links this information twice: once through movement (motor skills) and once through thinking (cognition). This creates particularly stable memory traces that are consolidated through repetition and then more easily retrievable.
The conclusion is clear: Sitting still is not a natural state – especially not for children. If you want to enable development, you have to allow movement. Be it in the children's room, in the classroom, or in everyday life: movement-friendly rooms are learning-friendly rooms.
The ergonomic children's desk chair Aeris Swoppster promotes the physical and mental development of children.
That's why we developed the children's desk chair Aeris Swoppster, which promotes healthy sitting from an early age. Thanks to its flexible height adjustability, it is designed for growth spurts to accompany your child from kindergarten to school. The grow-along desk chair for children fits children from 15kg to 50kg and up to a height of approx. 160 cm.
💡5 tips to help you remember things better
1. Moderate exercise before learning
Get your BDNF levels going! Just 10 minutes of endurance exercise before your next learning session can help you concentrate better and remember content more effectively.
2. Learning walks
Take your learning materials for a walk! For example, record them on your phone beforehand and listen to them like a podcast, or use flashcards that you can recite aloud as you walk to help you memorize them better.
3. Link learning content with body movements
The so-called "Method of Loci Principle" uses spatial thinking for better recall. For example, use different places in the room or paths in your apartment to link your learning content with movement routes. E.g., math formulas at the window, vocabulary at the door, etc.
4. Learn in rhythm
Recite words, definitions, or number sequences in rhythm while walking, rocking, or jumping. This works particularly well, for example, on an ergonomic office chair, such as the Aeris Swopper, which already bounces you up and down while sitting. The rhythm helps to structure content more easily and anchor it in long-term memory.
5. Targeted movement breaks
After 20-30 minutes of learning, stand up, stretch, or walk a few steps. This gets your circulation going and improves the consolidation of what you have learned.
Why exercise improves our learning ability
The most important points summarized for you:
-
Increased blood flow:
Exercise promotes oxygen and nutrient transport to the brain, which increases concentration and memory. -
Release of neurotransmitters:
Exercise activates neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which increase attention and motivation. -
Promotion of neuroplasticity:
Exercise increases the release of the growth factor BDNF, which builds new neuronal connections that are crucial for our learning ability. -
Stress reduction:
Exercise reduces the stress hormone cortisol - an often underestimated learning blocker - and promotes inner calm. -
Improved cognitive flexibility:
Regular exercise trains the switching between thought processes and improves problem-solving ability.
The conclusion is:
Movement is not only essential to keep our body fit, but also our brain. Whether for better remembering, 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 characterized by long periods of sitting, it therefore makes a real difference if movement is not neglected. This is precisely why we at Aeris develop furniture that automatically provides more movement in everyday work. For more concentration, better ideas, and a brain that stays alert.
