“Inhibition and switching were the two main cognitive functions we focused on here,” says Stenling, “Cognitive switching, sometimes called mental flexibility, is how easy we’re able to switch between cognitive tasks,” he says. “So, going from one task to the other without having to reset your cognition, so to speak. Inhibition is about blocking out irrelevant information while you’re engaged in the task.” Stenling explains that we know that these cognitive functions are important for learning, cognitive word tasks, abstract thinking, and being able to keep your thoughts on one thing.
Stenling and colleagues found that their stair-climbing exercise significantly improved participants’ “switching” abilities, which is also considered the most difficult of the cognitive tasks tested for. They also tested for changes in mood, finding that participants felt happier and more energetic after stair-climbing.
Another study published by researchers at the Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan also found that people who climbed two flights of stairs displayed more focused problem solving than those who took the elevator. Intriguingly, there weren’t any improvements in problem solving when they climbed five or eight flights of stairs, suggesting the effect is not dependent upon the number of stairs. Another study by the same group also found that walking downstairs led to an increase in creative thinking, generating 61% more original ideas than those who travelled using a lift. So if you are looking for a burst of inspiration on a problem you are trying to solve, a quick jaunt up to the next floor and back may be all you need.
There is much interest in the mechanisms which link exercise to cognitive benefits, but little conclusive research. Stenling suggests, however, that the improvements could be linked to the cardiovascular system and the increase in blood flow to the brain, as well as growth hormones such as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which seem to be impacted quickly by exercise in general.