I found this TedTalk video very enlightening as it provided a fundamental explanation of why humans possess a brain at all. According to the neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert, the purpose of our brain is to control movement. Movement, in essence, is why we need a brain

Another captivating TedTalk video tackles a similar topic from an evolutionary perspective, focusing on why the brain is inherently designed for movement:

From this perspective, the concept of an embodied mind gains more clarity. Our cognition extends beyond just the brain nestled within our skull; it is incorporated within our entire body. The act of moving our bodies is fundamental to us as intelligent beings.

This logic, therefore, appears straightforward to me:

Do you aspire to be more intelligent? Stay active. Would you rather be less sharp? Become a couch potato.

With a simple query in Google Scholar, I am confident that numerous studies supporting this hypothesis can be discovered.

One research field that strengthens my belief in the fundamental importance of movement to our intelligence is the study of the cerebellum (the “little brain”). I was astonished to learn that, according to some studies, the cerebellum houses approximately 50-80% of our 86 billion neurons, even though it comprises only about 10% of our brain’s volume (Lent et al., 2012). Ever wondered why this is the case?

The cerebellum is acknowledged to play a pivotal role in motor-action control. Basic literature in our introductory courses on brain and cognition typically emphasizes this. We don’t usually associate subcortical regions, such as the cerebellum, with higher cognitive functions – these are often attributed to the neocortex.

However, recent research indicates that individuals with cerebellar dysfunction also experience a decline in their higher-level cognitive abilities. Only in the past few decades have we learned more about the cerebellum’s role in higher cognitive functions such as social learning and language. Hence, we now possess stronger evidence to argue that perception, action, and cognition are all interconnected.

One article I consider essential reading is from Barton (2012), suggesting that sensory-motor and cognitive evolution are not separate. “…Cognitive evolution is to be understood as the elaboration of embodied control systems, rather than of a disembodied reasoning device.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22734053/

Unfortunately, in our modern culture, we often dichotomize the mind and the body. We prioritize “thinking” while neglecting “moving.”

For me, the story of the cerebellum, acting as a hub with its cortico-cerebellar networks, offers a compelling explanation of why movement is fundamental. The benefits of physical activities cannot be overstated.

Barton sums it up nicely: “Any account of human neuro-cognitive evolution needs to explain why there are so many neurons in the cerebellum. The answer suggested here, based on converging comparative and experimental evidence, is that the cerebellum and cortico-cerebellar networks are key components of systems enabling the control, organization, and comprehension of complex sequences involved in both technical and social intelligence, and, ultimately, language.”