Advice from a neuroscientist: go rock climbing

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alina

Trad climber
CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 23, 2014 - 07:17pm PT
I thought this interview was pretty interesting. The take-home message comes towards the end, so don't give up early.

TL;DR: doing puzzles and listening to classical music does not make you smarter; exercise and sunlight does.

"Q: What do you do to protect your brain?

A: I知 a rock climber and an ice climber. I go to the Sierra Nevada mountains, anywhere above 10,000 feet I知 a happy guy. At home I go to the gym."

http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/08/quick-study-neuroscience?_ga=1.148462583.1311764398.1406164622

Also, his father was Lyman Spitzer, who got the FA on Mt. Thor on Baffin Island.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jul 23, 2014 - 08:10pm PT
Advice from a climber?

But exercise is number one, diet number two and then social interaction. These are the important things for brain function.

What do you do to protect your brain?

I知 a rock climber and an ice climber. I go to the Sierra Nevada mountains, anywhere above 10,000 feet I知 a happy guy. At home I go to the gym.
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Jul 23, 2014 - 08:54pm PT
At home I go to the gym.

Do any of you see him in the gym, San Diego area?


If so, please encourage him to leave a mark here at supertopo at least once in awhile.

His input would be a joy. On the "what is mind?" thread, for instance.
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jul 23, 2014 - 09:44pm PT
Also, his father was Lyman Spitzer, who got the FA on Mt. Thor on Baffin Island.

Lyman Spitzer had a few other accomplishments of note. For example, he was a world-renowned astrophysicist and the "father" of the Hubbel telescope. Three years ago, I posted this tribute to Lyman right here on SuperTopo.

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1596980&tn=0#msg1596980

coolrockclimberguy69

climber
Jul 23, 2014 - 10:03pm PT
that is a 5.10+ moustache right there
HighDesertDJ

Trad climber
Jul 24, 2014 - 06:14am PT
Easily 5.11- R moustache. Huge risk for detritus after meals.
MH2

climber
Jul 24, 2014 - 06:40am PT
anywhere above 10,000 feet I知 a happy guy




Wasn't it Frank Smythe about whom it was said that he functioned best above 20,000 feet? And who was it that pointed out that that must have been a considerable handicap considering how much of his life was spent below that elevation?

Smythe's Wikipedia entry contains this:

It was said that he had a tendency for irascibility, that some of his mountaineering contemporaries said "decreased with altitude".
alina

Trad climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 24, 2014 - 11:28am PT
There is a famous quote by Willi Unsoeld: "Life begins at 10,000 feet."
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Jul 24, 2014 - 11:58am PT
The sought-after beneficial effects of high altitude are no big secret.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_training

There are even forms of high altitude simulation ---such as restricted breathing, breathing masks etc., even special rooms and houses built to simulate HA environments.

Apparently there are numerous reputed hormetic health benefits related to limited exposure to hypoxic conditions, as well as the short term natural blood doping sought after by competitive athletes.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormesis. (Hormesis is controversial and not widely accepted)

As far as the long term benefits of exercise to the maintenance of intelligence ---this largely resides in the ability of exercise to induce autophagy in the brain and nervous system--- much like fasting and several known and unknown substances.
I'm not sure , but judicious exposure to hypoxic conditions might also induce autophagy.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autophagy
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Jul 24, 2014 - 12:01pm PT
Okay....in the name of brain elasticity I'm going rock climbing....right now!
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Jul 24, 2014 - 01:07pm PT
Makes sense to me.

Except sport climbing with a detailed topo. That shite rots the brain and pops the tendons.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Jul 24, 2014 - 02:24pm PT
Sending at the gold wall, sipping Odwalla and chilin with the bros! Knew it!

Good article, thank you for sharing.
klk

Trad climber
cali
Jul 24, 2014 - 02:58pm PT
His input would be a joy. On the "what is mind?" thread, for instance.


lol

yr joking, right?


we already have a number of folks with professional competence who don't post in that thread for the obvious reasons. just like most of the competent folks don't post in the "climate" thread.

High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Jul 24, 2014 - 06:04pm PT
It WOULD be a joy!


klk, your post seemed snarky and condescending, but I'm sure you didn't mean it to.
klk

Trad climber
cali
Jul 24, 2014 - 06:38pm PT
yes, it WOULD be a joy.

for us, at least.

Messages 1 - 15 of total 15 in this topic
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