Researchers from a major Japanese university report that gentle physical training paired with rhythmic music can boost the brain’s executive functions, including attention, memory, and thinking. The findings, published in a neuroscience journal, suggest a practical approach to improving cognitive tasks through enjoyable activities.
Earlier work showed that people who are highly responsive to groove music—rhythms that make them want to move—can experience improvements in the prefrontal cortex merely by listening to the beat. In the present study, investigators discovered that weaving music with light exercise amplifies this effect, yielding stronger brain benefits when both elements are combined.
In the trial, 48 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 26 engaged in very low-intensity aerobic activity for three minutes while listening to rhythmic music. Those who felt their bodies reacting to the rhythm during exercise, accompanied by emotional arousal, displayed heightened activity in the brain’s left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This region supports executive functions such as sustained attention, working memory, and deliberate problem solving. The study notes that these cognitive skills enable a person to plan actions toward a goal and to concentrate on the task at hand.
The researchers conclude that the results pave the way for designing enjoyable, simple, and effective workouts that can enhance brain health and cognitive performance in everyday life.
A related line of research highlighted that late-bedtime habits are linked to cardiovascular risks, underscoring the broader health benefits of consistent routines that include physical activity and mental engagement.