Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
From Robin Nixon of LiveScience, Exercise is physiologically good for your brain:
Because it burns calories so quickly, aerobic exercise is a threat to the body’s energy reserves. Heeding this danger, the body acts to protect one of its most precious, and energy-demanding, organs: the brain.
…
By acting as a mild stressor, exercise is an alternative way to spur many of the protective benefits associated with calorie restriction and the release of brain-building growth factors, said Carl Cotman, director of the Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia at the University of California in Irvine.
What kind of exercise? Well, running is quite effective:
Even when we are sitting or lying down, our bodies send our brains regular updates about how our limbs are positioned. When we, say, stand and begin walking, these electric messages need to be sent more often. (Knee is bent, straight, bent, straight …) Move fast enough and the electrical activity doesn’t have time to dissipate between each message. It begins building up in the brain and eventually triggers a release of chemicals called growth factors.
Growth factors are like manna for neurons. “They make neurons stronger, healthier and improve their ability to learn,” Cotman said.
Anaerobic activity does little to aid the brain via this mechanism, but aerobic activity seems to do the trick.
Thank You for Choosing the Hyatt Regency Purgatory:
Pool—Open 24 hours. Though it’s unheated, some guests may find that immersion in the pool’s holy water sears their corrupt flesh.
Room Service—Room service is available 24 hours a day, though use of this service is considered slothful and may extend your stay.
I especially love the ATM fees tidbit.
These are in the rainforest area of the zoo.
It may look like Mykala was Photoshopped into this picture, but she was, in fact, not.
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