To the oldies of AF

[KichigaiNeko]

Motorcycle Riding keeps you young and alert


The scientist who invented "Brain Age," a popular mental training game for the Nintendo DS, has discovered that riding motorcycles improves cognitive function. Ryuta Kawashima partnered with Yamaha and Tohoku University to study the effects of motorcycle riding, "In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to setting the hurdle low. Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing."

22 men in their 40s and 50s who had motorcycle licenses but had not ridden for at least a decade were used for the study. Half were made to ride a motorcycle everyday for two months, while the other half were forbidden to. The two groups were given a series of tests before and after that period. "The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks in cognitive function tests," Kawashima said.

One test had the group attempt to remember a set of numbers in reverse order. The motorcyclists improved their scores by more than 50% after the two months while the non-riders' scores decreased marginally. The motorcyclists also reported making fewer mistakes at work and generally feeling "happier."

Because riding a motorcycle requires a high level of alertness and rapid problem solving, Kawashima found, "the driver's brain gets activated by riding motorbikes." He went on to conclude, "Mental care is a very big issue in modern society. I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute."

The second stage of a research project into the relationship between motorcycle riding and brain stimulation conducted jointly by Tohoku University and Yamaha is due to wrap up this month, December 2010.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/article.asp?Art_ID=22107

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Findings of the first stage of this project released in Mar 2009 found that:

- riding a motorcycle activates prefrontal areas of the brain;
- differences in brain use and level of brain stimulation can be observed in motorcyclists who ride regularly and in motorcyclists who have not ridden for extended periods;
- Incorporating motorcycle riding into daily life improves various cognitive functions and has positive effects on mental and emotional health such as stress reduction.

The area activated covers memory, information processing and concentration functions.

Past research data has indicated the prefrontal area does not work as much when driving an automobile.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/category/natio...n-training

“Riding motorcycles helps keep drivers young by invigorating their brains,” says Ryuta Kawashima, Laboratory of the Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer at Tohoku University.

“Mental care is a very big issue in modern society,” said Kawashima. “I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute.”

Source: http://thecurrentaffairs.com/riding-moto...study.html

“We found, as predicted, that the bilateral PFC was activated during motorcycle riding, and that incorporating motorcycle riding into daily life has beneficial effects not only for improving various cognitive functions, but also for reducing mental stress.” - Tohoku University

Source: http://www.idac.tohoku.ac.jp/dep/sairc/research.html

In a separate study - results released earlier this year - it has been found that dirt bike riding improves quality of life.

"Off-road riders have high levels of mental and physical functioning quality of life(QOL). Given their higher physical function, off‐road motorcycle riders are less likely than all terrain vehicle riders or the general population to have physical limitations or health problems."
- Health & Fitness Journal of Canada 2010;3(1):4--11.

The news gets better; the second publication in this series of four reports has confirmed that 96.6% of ORV riders consider themselves to be both positive, optimistic thinkers, are “expected to have lower levels of stress and depression…and a higher overall life satisfaction”.

Source: http://www.oftr.ca/articles.php?id=4426

This study is by Burr, Jamie Francis Burr, Ph.D., YORK UNIVERSITY , 2010

Source: http://gradworks.umi.com/NR/64/NR64874.html

By comparison there is objective evidence that commuting by car and train increases stress.

Commuting by car or train elevates blood pressure, adrenaline, cortisol (neuroendocrine processes that are key players in the fight/flight response) – known stress markers directly implicated in development of cardiovascular disease and suppressed immune function.

Cortisol is a well-known mechanism linking environmental exposure to stressors to physical morbidity.

“Commuting as a stressor has policy importance as several of the stress indicators sensitive to commuting are early warning signs of other more serious problems."
- The Impact of Mode & Mode Transfer Stress study conducted jointly by Cornell University, Polytechnic University & New Jersey Department of Transportation, released in 2004.


This study was the first time the adverse impact of commuting conditions on work settings was documented.

It also re-confirmed & showed:
- Commuting by car & train elevates stress
- carpool passengers experience greater stress than carpool drivers;
- Carpooling was more stressful than solo driving;
- Higher traffic congestion directly relates to less control, less control has a relationship to greater stress.
- Different levels of stress between men & women.

Source: http://www.utrc2.org/research/assets/74/...eport1.pdf

Do you know of any other research studies conducted into the health benefits of riding a motorcycle?

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