Neuro Study Says Traveling Makes Your Brain Grow!

A common thought is that travel is good for your health. Most of us have seen results of clinical studies, in magazines or online, that travel is good for you medically and psychologically. Relaxation, stress reduction and physical fitness activities of walking and being “on the go” while sightseeing, all make sense to be healthy and thus beneficial outcomes of taking a vacation and traveling.

Now, the even better news for us RVers is that simply stated, “Traveling makes your brain grow.”, as written within a 2014 article from Tribune Travels/Chicago Tribune which referenced a study done by Paul Nussbaum, a clinical neuropsychologist and adjunct professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.

Check out what Nussbaum said about traveling and the brain:

“When you expose your brain to an environment that’s novel and complex or new and difficult, the brain literally reacts,” he explained. Those new and challenging situations cause the brain to sprout dendrites — dangling extensions — which Nussbaum said grow the brain’s capacity.

“Your brain literally begins to look like a jungle.”

“Travel by definition is dropping your brain into a place that’s novel and complex,” he said. “You’re stunned a little bit, and your brain reacts by being engaged, and you begin to process on a deep level.”

Of course, we at RV Beagle know that traveling is NOT perfect and it’s not without conflict… especially when you have time restraints, disagree on where to go or how long to stay, and/or you’re simply dealing with financial issues that can pop up such as rising fuel prices or RV maintenance costs.  So, from reading this article,  it’s good to know that even the down side of traveling can still be a good thing for people. With regard to stress, Nussbaum said:

“Some stress, some anxiety is good because it positions the brains to be more attentive and more engaged.”

“Travel sticks with us and brings back positive memories and experiences,” he said. “You have the ability to go back there in your brain.”

We say, good to know! Here’s another reason to SMILE when we think about our RV’s travels!

To read the Tribune Travels article go to:  http://articles.chicagotribune.com