Exercise is good for both our bodies and brains, but it turns out, it may help make us more generous, too. A new study from the University of Portsmouth in the U.K. finds that the energized feeling people get post-workout may encourage them to dig deeper for good causes. And it all comes down to exercise triggering the release of dopamine - the brain’s “feel good” hormone - which plays a key role in mood, motivation and reward processing.
"We know exercise is good for physical health, and we know it improves cognitive performance,” says lead researcher Joe Costello, an associate professor. "What we wanted to know was whether exercise can also make people more generous, more willing to give."
To test the idea, the research team had 138 adults sit on stationary exercise bikes arranged around a TV screen.
- Half of them cycled at moderate intensity while watching an episode of the BBC show “Bargain Hunt” and half watched the show but didn’t pedal.
- Before and after the session, participants filled out mood questionnaires and after the session, they played money-related decision-making games, including the chance to donate to charities and give to a stranger.
- It turns out, the exercise group were more likely to feel more generous, but researchers note they had to enjoy breaking a sweat to feel the “warm glow” of generosity.
- Just working out didn’t make them more generous, it’s all about their mood afterward.
"Participants who felt more energized and alert after cycling were significantly more likely to donate to charity and to take positive financial risks on their own behalf,” study authors explain. "Those who did not see an improvement in mood after exercise showed the opposite pattern, giving less." Researchers credit that hit of dopamine from the workout that leaves exercisers with a “warm glow” that increases generosity.
Source: Talker