The remarkable science of walking's feel-good effects

[canetoad]

/snip

According to a study published in Lancet Psychiatry that analysed data over four years from 1.2 million people in the United States, individuals who exercise had 43 per cent fewer days of bad mental health during the previous month compared to those who did not exercise.

So, what’s going on? What is it about walking in particular that has such a positive effect on us?

When we look at the psychology, neuroscience and biochemistry that develop when we put one foot in front of another, we discover very powerful reasons behind those great feelings.

Firstly, walking increases levels of “feel good” chemicals in our brains. We see a rise in the release of endorphins; a group of peptide hormones that relieve pain and create a general sense of wellbeing. And there is an increased flow of particular neurotransmitters, these are the body’s chemical messengers; used by the nervous system to transmit messages between neurons in the brain or between the brain and the muscles. Going for a stroll increases neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, anandamide and norepinephrine which help create a more open and spacious mindset.

Walking promotes our sense of empathy. This is because when we walk we activate the right supramarginal gyrus, this is the area of the brain involved in proprioception – our ability to understand where we are in space – and without it we would randomly bump into objects and have no capacity to navigate. But the supramarginal gyrus is also the part of the brain activated when we empathise with others. Walking inadvertently opens us up to people and their ideas, and knowing we are not alone – being able to more easily connect to people around us – can help break the rumination that sometimes accompanies challenging mental states.

https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/the-remarkable-science-of-walking-s-feel-good-effects-20220106-p59mey.html