PROOF: Motorcycling is AMAZING for Your BRAIN!
Summary
TLDRThis script explores the mental health benefits of adventure motorcycling, emphasizing its therapeutic effects beyond traditional exercise. It discusses optic flow's impact on reducing stress and enhancing memory, the physical demands equating to intense workouts, and the social camaraderie that fosters mental well-being. Adventure therapy's role in identity development and resilience is highlighted, with the script concluding that trail riding is a natural, enjoyable way to improve psychological health.
Takeaways
- ποΈ Motorcycling, particularly adventure motorcycling at low speeds on trails, can be beneficial for brain health beyond just being a thrilling activity.
- π₯ The script dismisses the Hollywood portrayal of motorcycling and extreme sports as not representative of the real, therapeutic aspects of motorcycling.
- π¬ The script cites scientific research, including the benefits of optic flow and its impact on the amygdala, which helps in reducing negative emotions and improving problem-solving abilities.
- π§ Neuroscientist Shane O'Mara's work is mentioned, emphasizing that the brain can benefit from 'exercise' like optic flow, leading to increased volume in the hippocampal formation, which is crucial for learning, memory, and attention.
- π‘ The script highlights that older individuals engaging in activities involving optic flow can show increased creativity compared to sedentary younger individuals.
- π Exercise, including motorcycling, is linked to mental health benefits comparable to those of pharmaceutical medications, improving memory, focus, and reducing stress and feelings of sadness, loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
- π΅ββοΈ Motocross and Enduro are described as physically demanding exercises that can significantly elevate heart rates, offering the same mental health benefits as other forms of exercise.
- π€ The social aspect of motorcycling, especially when riding in a group, can foster camaraderie and teamwork, which are beneficial for mental well-being and can mimic the bonds formed in intense situations like combat.
- π³ The benefits of being outdoors and in nature are underscored, with time spent in nature linked to improved attention, lower stress, better mood, and reduced risk of psychiatric disorders.
- π The script mentions the therapeutic effects of 'awe' experienced in nature and the concept of adventure therapy, which involves challenging activities in the wilderness to promote personal development and resilience.
- π The final takeaway is a call to action, inviting viewers to join rallies for an immersive motorcycling experience that combines the therapeutic benefits discussed with the joy of riding.
Q & A
Motorcycling can improve mental health in what ways?
-Motorcycling can boost mood, sharpen the mind, and increase feelings of connection to the world, offering a sense of freedom and escape that helps reduce stress and anxiety[^1^].
How does the physical act of motorcycling affect the brain?
-The physical act of motorcycling engages the mind and body, offering cognitive benefits such as improved concentration, mental agility, and overall mental sharpness[^1^].
What is the impact of optic flow on brain function during motorcycling?
-Optic flow, the visual experience of moving through space, has been shown to suppress the amygdala, reducing negative emotions and enhancing problem-solving and memory processing efficiency[^1^].
Can motorcycling have therapeutic effects similar to EMDR for PTSD?
-Yes, the optic flow experienced during motorcycling mimics the eye movement used in EMDR therapy, which has been effective in treating PTSD and reducing negative memories in participants[^1^].
How does motorcycling influence the size of the hippocampal formation?
-Neuroscientist Shane O'Mara suggests that the optical flow received while motorcycling can increase the volume of the hippocampal formation, improving learning, memory, spatial navigation, and attention management[^1^].
What are the mental health benefits of physical exercise in the context of motorcycling?
-Physical exercise from motorcycling can improve memory, focus, and reverse functional decline in the brain. It also lowers stress, increases happiness, and decreases sadness, loneliness, depression, and anxiety[^1^].
How does motorcycling as a social sport contribute to mental well-being?
-Social sports like motorcycling can increase interpersonal interaction, boosting moods, decreasing loneliness, improving self-esteem, and fostering a sense of self-worth[^1^].
What is the role of camaraderie and teamwork in group motorcycling experiences?
-Group motorcycling fosters a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, promoting a unique kinship and bonding that can be reminiscent of bonds formed during combat, contributing to mental well-being[^1^].
Can being outdoors in nature while motorcycling have positive effects on mental health?
-Time spent in nature during motorcycling has been linked to improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders, and increased empathy and cooperation[^1^].
What is adventure therapy and how is it related to motorcycling?
-Adventure therapy involves doing physically and mentally challenging activities in the wilderness, which can promote healthy identity development, positive coping skills, and increased awareness of stress levels, resilience, self-efficacy, grit, and a growth mindset[^1^].
How does motorcycling modulate attention and stress with arousal?
-Riding a motorcycle increases sensory focus and resilience to distraction, while also enhancing alertness and altering hormone levels associated with stress and arousal[^10^].
What neurobiological evidence supports the mental benefits of motorcycling?
-A study published in Brain Research found that motorcycling can decrease hormonal biomarkers of stress by 25% and enhance sensory focus, similar to the effects observed in experienced meditators[^10^].
How does motorcycling affect cognitive functioning in motorcyclists aged 40 to 50?
-A study by the University of Tokyo found that regular motorcycle riders between the ages of 40 and 50 showed increased cognitive functioning and improved problem-solving skills compared to non-riders[^7^].
What are some of the physical fitness benefits of motorcycling?
-Motorcycling can burn calories, strengthen abdominal muscles, improve muscle tone, and potentially help with conditions like Type 2 diabetes and weak knees[^7^].
Can motorcycling contribute to better sleep patterns?
-Yes, the physical exertion from motorcycling can help tire the body, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, which in turn enhances mental clarity and emotional stability[^6^].
What is the relationship between motorcycling and neurotransmitter regulation?
-Motorcycling can influence the regulation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which play a crucial role in mood regulation and emotional well-being, leading to feelings of happiness and well-being[^6^].
How does motorcycling support the integration of mind and body?
-Riding a motorcycle requires both mental focus and physical coordination, promoting mindfulness and reducing stress while providing a form of light exercise that complements mental well-being[^6^].
What is the potential impact of motorcycling on the hippocampal formation and learning?
-According to neuroscientist Shane O'Mara, the brain functions like a muscle, and the optical flow experienced during motorcycling can materially affect the volume of the hippocampal formation, which controls learning and memory[^1^].
How does motorcycling compare to other forms of exercise in terms of physical demands?
-Motocross and Hard Enduro are considered some of the most difficult and physically demanding exercises, with heart rates often reaching the 140s and 150s even during easier rides[^1^].
What is the potential therapeutic effect of motorcycling on PTSD?
-Processing difficult memories and events during optical flow, as experienced in motorcycling, has been shown to desensitize and reduce negative memories that manifest with PTSD for 77 percent of participants[^1^].
Can motorcycling be considered a form of mindfulness practice?
-Yes, motorcycling offers a unique way to practice mindfulness by fully immersing riders in the present moment and focusing on the road ahead and the sensations of the ride, which can help let go of worries and stress[^1^].
What are the social benefits of group motorcycling experiences?
-Group motorcycling can quickly become a team effort, fostering camaraderie, a sense of belonging, and new friendships, which are critical for mental well-being[^1^].
How does being outdoors in nature while motorcycling impact mental health?
-Spending time in nature during motorcycling has been linked to improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders, and increased empathy and cooperation[^1^].
What is adventure therapy and how does it relate to motorcycling?
-Adventure therapy involves doing physically and mentally challenging activities in the wilderness and has been shown to promote healthy identity development, positive coping skills, resilience, self-efficacy, grit, and a growth mindset, which are all benefits that can be experienced through motorcycling[^1^].
Outlines
ποΈ The Neurological Benefits of Motorcycling
This paragraph delves into the cognitive and psychological advantages of adventure motorcycling, distinguishing it from the Hollywood portrayals and extreme sports. It highlights how the optic flow experienced during riding can have therapeutic effects similar to EMDR, reducing negative emotions and enhancing problem-solving abilities. The script discusses how this activity can improve memory, spatial navigation, and attention by exercising the hippocampal formation. It also touches on the increase in creativity associated with optic flow and the mental health benefits of physical exercise, such as reduced stress and increased production of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.
π€ Social and Emotional Benefits of Group Motorcycling
The second paragraph emphasizes the social and emotional benefits of participating in group motorcycling activities. It discusses how social sports can improve mental health by reducing loneliness, boosting self-esteem, and fostering a sense of self-worth. The script describes the unique camaraderie and teamwork required in enduro motorcycling, drawing parallels with the bonds formed during combat for veterans. It also addresses the importance of social relationships for mental well-being and how motorcycling can help adults expand their social circles and form meaningful friendships.
π² The Therapeutic Effects of Nature and Adventure Therapy
This paragraph explores the benefits of being outdoors and the concept of adventure therapy. It outlines how spending time in nature is linked to improved attention, reduced stress, and better mood, as well as a decreased risk of psychiatric disorders. The script explains the emotional response of awe and its positive impact on mental health, supported by the findings that natural scenes can enhance cognitive performance. It also introduces adventure therapy as a legitimate therapeutic approach that promotes personal development, resilience, and a growth mindset through challenging activities in the wilderness.
π₯ Inviting Participation in Motorcycling Rallies
The final paragraph serves as an invitation to join motorcycling rallies in southwest Utah and Arizona, which offer an opportunity to experience the therapeutic benefits of motorcycling throughout the winter season. The script provides information about the rally's cost, inclusions, and the intimate size of the groups, encouraging interested viewers to book early due to limited availability. It also mentions upcoming Black Friday deals for patrons and producers, expressing gratitude for the support of the video content.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Motorcycling
π‘Optic Flow
π‘EMDR
π‘Hippocampus
π‘Physical Exercise
π‘Camaraderie
π‘Nature
π‘Stress Hormones
π‘Dopamine and Serotonin
π‘Awe
π‘Adventure Therapy
Highlights
Motorcycling, particularly adventure motorcycling at low speeds, can be beneficial for brain health.
Optic flow, the visual experience of moving through space, can reduce negative emotions and improve problem-solving and memory.
EMDR, a treatment for PTSD, utilizes the concept of optic flow to help process traumatic memories.
Neuroscientist Shane O'Mara suggests that physical exercise, including motorcycling, can improve brain function and reverse cognitive decline.
Motorcycling can increase the volume of the hippocampal formation, enhancing learning, memory, and spatial navigation.
Physical exercise, including motorcycling, is linked to improved mental health, comparable to the benefits of pharmaceutical medications.
Dirt bike racing and trail riding are among the most physically demanding exercises, with heart rates often exceeding 140 beats per minute.
Social sports and group motorcycling can improve mood, self-esteem, and reduce feelings of loneliness.
Camaraderie during group motorcycling can create strong bonds similar to those formed in combat or team sports.
Motorcycling can help adults expand their social circles, which is crucial for mental well-being as they age.
Spending time in nature has been linked to improved attention, lower stress, and reduced risk of psychiatric disorders.
The feeling of awe experienced in nature can boost mental health and cognitive performance.
Adventure therapy, which involves challenging activities in the wilderness, promotes positive mental health outcomes.
Motorcycling provides a natural way to experience the benefits of adventure therapy without feeling like a prescribed regimen.
Motorcycling can be a lifelong activity that offers continuous mental health benefits without feeling like a chore.
The speaker offers 'mototherapy' rallies in Utah and Arizona for those interested in the therapeutic benefits of motorcycling.
Transcripts
is motorcycling good for your brain and
no I don't mean the flagrantly fictional
kinds of motorcycling that Hollywood
spews forth you know animal skin clad
flamethrower wielding Public Enemies
Wheeling skull adorned death machines
while smuggling illicit substances to
their next bar fight and I don't mean
the extreme adrenaline junkie break
every bone in your body over and over
type motorcycling shown in shock media
what I'm talking about is real Adventure
motorcycling relatively low speeds done
on Trails away from traffic dangers
safety gear from head to toe Wheels
rarely leave the ground with a focus on
scenery Discovery camaraderie awe and
Oneness with nature as somebody who
rides motorcycles for a living the
question gets asked all the time why do
you ride a motorcycle why do you risk
that well besides the fact that it's my
living I'll let Joe Dirt answer that
you might might as well ask why is the
tree good why is the sunset good why so
let's get into the science of why
motorcycling is actually really good not
pseudoscience the peer-reviewed
psychologists backed real science from
the physical act of writing itself and
what writing does for our brain the
effect of being outdoors in nature to
the effects of riding as a United group
it begins with something called optic
flow EMDR or eye movement
desensitization and reprocessing is a
highly effective treatment for PTSD that
involves the patient moving their eyes
from side to side or having some other
stimulus from one side to the other
which actually mimics the optical flow
of moving forward in space
research has found that when you move
through space even if just walking your
eyes make constant lateral movements to
continuously update your brain on where
you are while we maneuver during a trail
ride this Optical flow is not just
present but it's Amplified and when our
eyes track objects around us while
moving through our world the amygdala
the region of our brain involved with
stress anxiety and fear is suppressed
negative emotions feel less intense
which allows us to solve problems and
process painful experiences more
efficiently
remarkably processing difficult memories
and events during Optical flow has been
shown to desensitize and reduce negative
memories that manifest with PTSD for 77
percent of participants
and according to neuroscientist Shane
O'Mara the brain functions like a muscle
and it can atrophy without proper
exercise literal exercise he states that
the optical flow one receives while
simply walking materially affects the
volume of the hippocampal formation the
part of the brain which controls
learning memory spatial navigation and
attention management
when moving through our world whether
taking it easy and walking down a
sidewalk or Turbo charging our optic
Flow by riding a dirt bike down a single
track the SE areas of the brain actually
get bigger the functions it supports
memory problem solving attention they
all get better you reverse the
functional aging of the brain
he also states that the creative
processing of the brain increases with
Optical flow cited studies where 72 year
olds who simply walk to engage Optical
flow before a creativity test were twice
as creative as sedentary 20 year olds
now everybody already knows that
physical exercise is inextricably linked
to mental health Studies have shown that
exercise can have just as much a benefit
to mental health as pharmaceutical
medications well when it comes to
exercise Motocross Hard Enduro and other
forms of dirt bike racing rank as some
of the most difficult and physically
demanding exercises in existence
even on the comparatively easy rides
that you see us do in this video heart
rates often reach the 140s and 150s
trail riding is most certainly exercise
exercise in any form improves memory
improves focus and reverses the
functional decline in the brain it is
proven to lower stress increase
happiness and decrease levels of sadness
and loneliness it decreases depression
and anxiety it boosts Productions of
endorphins which help you to relax and
feel more pleasure feel less pain and it
reduces the production of the stress
hormone cortisol it also naturally
produces dopamine and serotonin the
chemicals that make us feel good and
many illicit drugs and psychiatric
medications like antidepressants attempt
to replicate or stimulate studies also
show that Social Sports like team sports
increase interpersonal interaction which
boosts moods and decreases feelings of
loneliness they improve our self-esteem
and Foster a sense of self-worth in a
study where participants were asked over
time whether they had positive neutral
or poor mental health days those who
participated in Social or team sports
with an aerobic component had the least
poor mental health days of all groups
motorcycling can be a solo Endeavor but
if you trail ride with a group like what
we're doing in this video it quickly
becomes a team effort now you're not
competing for points times or scores but
rather against nature against the trail
itself
the sense of camaraderie and teamwork
that must be present to get through a
difficult Trail as a group leaving no
one behind is unique to Enduro
motorcycling
describe but the kinship and bonding
that can happen during a difficult
motorcycle ride is like nothing I've
ever experienced in a traditional Sports
setting
I've actually hosted many combat
veterans on these rallies and some have
said that the camaraderie experience
during a really difficult group
motorcycle ride is reminiscent though
definitely not as acute as bonds formed
during combat
and where else can we find that kind of
Fellowship
social relationships are an absolutely
critical part of our mental well-being
and it's kind of weird when we grow up
right we leave high school or college
and get married pursue a career and a
family and usually after a few moves
maybe a few different jobs suddenly our
Social Circle shrinks to almost nothing
old friends disappear the days of team
sports are kind of finished adult
friends usually come from work or
neighbors or maybe who you go to church
with and sometimes it's kind of Slim
Pickens
the interpersonal relationships that are
critical for our mental well-being can
really suffer as we get older and our
Social Circles shrink I mean seriously
where does an adult go to meet new
friends well I have found that
motorcycling has blessed me with a
wealth of great friendships my very best
friends now have all met through
motorcycling
so we've talked about Optical flow we've
talked about exercise we've talked about
the benefits of camaraderie and the
importance of having a good Social
Circle
what about the benefits of Simply being
outdoors in nature according to the
American Psychological Association time
spent in nature has been linked to
improved attention lower stress better
mood reduced risk of psychiatric
disorders and upticks and empathy and
cooperation something we all need in
studies where groups of people were
shown a mere picture of a natural scene
performed cognitive tasks better versus
a control group who were just shown a
blank wall researchers suggest that the
emotion of awe or the feeling of an
individual being part of a much bigger
whole really boosts that improved mental
health State while being in nature if
you've ever seen something so beautiful
that it made your jaw drop or you simply
uttered wow to yourself you know exactly
what I mean
turns out those feelings are really good
for our brains
and did you know that there's even a
legitimate therapeutic modality called
Adventure therapy and it's literally
doing physically and mentally
challenging things in the wilderness
Studies have shown that Adventure
therapy promotes healthy identity
development positive coping skills and
increased awareness of stress levels
resilience self-efficacy grit and a
growth mindset
so there you have it trail riding is a
self-guided research-based clinically
backed therapeutic activity that
supercharges lateral eye movement and
optic flow provides all the
psychological and physical benefits of
aerobic exercise increases creativity
suppresses the amygdala reduces stress
hormones like cortisol literally grows
brain matter in the hippocampal
formation improves memory bolsters our
ability to process difficult events
naturally produces serotonin and
dopamine reaps the psychological
benefits of being in nature produces
feelings of awe instills empowerment and
grit and places Us in healthy social
spheres to find new friends and build
new and Lasting memories that give us
meaning and definition to our lives the
best part is that it doesn't feel like
therapy it doesn't feel like exercise we
ride because we love it not because it
ticks a box or is part of a prescribed
regimen no exercise plan or
psychological therapy is effective long
term unless we actually choose to do it
willingly and motorcycling is something
that we can go back to time and time
again that never feels for us never
feels like a slog it's always a welcome
event that we love doing
so next time you're feeling down or
depressed go out and take a motorcycle
ride and see if it helps now it's time
for that Shameless plug every bit of
footage that you saw in this video came
from just two rallies here in the first
of the Season down here in southwest
Utah and maybe right now you're thinking
uh-oh it's getting cold the snow is
going to fall soon my riding season is
over and I won't get that sweet sweet
mototherapy goodness for another six
months well fear not because it's
perfect riding weather here among the
Red Rocks deep canyons and spectacular
views of the Utah Arizona border all
winter long so if you're interested in
joining me for a rally some amazing
riding meeting some awesome new riding
friends and some incredibly effective
mototherapy check out everideadb.com
shop I'll put a link in the description
and in the comments and guys rallies are
less than 200 a day and include your
food guided riding epic footage of your
adventure lodging snacks headset rentals
you know that's less than most crappy
localhost tells weekend rates the groups
are small they're limited to just six
Riders and we only host one or two per
month so bookings can fill up pretty
fast so if you're interested check it
out and hopefully we'll ride together
soon
also if you are a producer or Patron I'm
going to be releasing some pretty epic
Black Friday deals for rallies to say
thank you for supporting videos like
this
as always thank you so much for watching
and much love ever ride out
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