Run barefoot to boost your memory

It is possible that the barefoot condition required a more intensive use of working memory because of the extra tactile and proprioceptive demands associated with barefoot running, which may account for the working memory gains.

Running barefoot is better than running with shoes for your working memory which refers to our ability to recall and process information, according to a study. Working memory is used throughout our lifespan.

By improving it, we may be able to realise gains in key areas, from school to work to retirement. “Working memory is increasingly recognised as a crucial cognitive skill, and these findings are great news for people looking for a fun way to boost their working memory,” said one of the researchers, Tracy Alloway, from the University of North Florida in the US.

The researchers enlisted 72 participants between the ages of 18 and 44, who ran both barefoot and with shoes on at a comfortable, self-selected pace for approximately 16 minutes.

Read: Nothing compares to barefoot running, says Milind Soman

Working memory was measured before and after running. The results of this research, published in the journal Perceptual and Motor Skills, found a significant increase -- approximately 16% -- in working memory performance in the barefoot-running condition.

When running barefoot, one often has to avoid stepping on potentially hurtful objects by using precise foot placement. It is possible that the barefoot condition required a more intensive use of working memory because of the extra tactile and proprioceptive demands associated with barefoot running, which may account for the working memory gains, Ross Alloway explained.