New research out of the University of North Florida suggests that barefoot running may be better for your working memory than running with shoes.
Previous studies have shown that barefoot running can help push a person to naturally land with the preferred forefoot-strike running style, but this study is the first to suggest that barefoot running may offer cognitive benefits. For their study, researchers enlisted 72 runners between the ages of 18 and 44. Participants were split into a barefoot running or shoe running group, and each were asked to run at a comfortable speed for 16 minutes. Working memory was measured both before and after runs were completed.
After looking at the results, researchers found a significant 16 percent increase in working memory among runners in the barefoot group compared to the shoe-wearing group.
“Working memory is increasingly recognized as a crucial cognitive skill, and these findings are great news for people looking for a fun way to boost their working memory,” said UNF associate professor Dr. Tracy Alloway.
Why The Brain Benefits?
Researchers noted that they did not prove that barefoot running directly caused the boost in memory, only that there was a correlation between the two. Lead researcher Dr. Ross Alloway also said while the study didn’t show why barefoot running was associated with a boost in working memory, he hypothesized that barefoot running requires more intensive use of working memory because of the extra tactile and proprioceptive demands associated with the running style. He said he was pleased by the findings in the study.
“The little things often have the greatest impact. This research shows us that we can realize our cognitive potential and enjoy ourselves at the same time,” said Dr. Ross Alloway. “If we take off our shoes and go for a run, we can finish smarter than when we started.”
Although the research is intriguing, that doesn’t mean you should just ditch the footwear every time you go for a run. Read up on these other blogs about making the transition to barefoot running. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can actually put yourself at greater risk for injury by running barefoot, so take it slow, only run on well-paved surfaces, and listen to your feet when you run.
