Watching a film at the cinema could be as good for you a study has claimed.
Watching Movies Exercise
I’m not sure Davina McCall will be bringing out a cinema movie exercise video anytime soon but scientists claim cinema to be light cardio.
Researchers found your heart rate increases as much as it would during light cardio. The stimulation of your brain as it becomes more immersed in the movie also benefits the mind. The latter I can believe, I’m certainly questioning the light cardio thou. If that’s the case I’m essentially Usain Bolt!
A film can boost concentration and memory and in a study of 51 people who watched Aladdin, researchers used sensors to track heart rate and skin reactions. The research was carried out by University College London and paid for by Vue Cinemas.
The study compared this cinema audience for 45 minutes against a test audience who spent the same time reading. The results found that the cinema group were in a ‘healthy heart zone’. During the cinema study, the heart was beating at 40-80% of its maximum rate.
Neuroscience professor at UCL, Dr. Joseph Devlin, said: ‘Cultural experiences like going to the cinema provide opportunities for our brain to devote our undivided attention for sustained periods of time.
‘At the cinema specifically, there is nothing else to do except to immerse yourself.
‘On top of this, our ability to sustain focus and attention plays a critical role in building our mental resilience. Because problem-solving typically requires a concentrated effort to overcome obstacles.
‘In other words, our ability to work through problems without distraction makes us better able to solve problems and makes us more productive.
‘In a world where it is increasingly difficult to step away from our devices, this level of sustained focus is good for us.’
So for those of you reading this right now, get yourselves to the cinema and start watching movies!
