Physical Movement Stimulates Brain Function
Specific body movements stimulate particular aspects of brain function. An example is "Dennison Laterality Repatterning", (taught only in the Brain Gym ® Course) which achieves neurological integration between the vestibular system, the gross-motor movements of the cerebellum, and the basal ganglia, as well as equal activation of the left and right hemispheres of the neocortex - particularly the sensory cortex of the parietal and motor cortex of the frontal lobes. The Brain Gym ® movements are designed to activate different cognitive functions, including communication, comprehension (reptilian brain and frontal lobes) and organisation (limbic system and frontal lobes).

Stress can inhibit learning
Under stress, activity in the mind/body system is centred in the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for fight/flight (aggression/fear) reaction. As a result, activity in the limbic system, and in the neocortex of the cerebrum, are minimised.
In addition, the learner who is stressed in a learning situation can go into a homolateral learning state, in which the dominant brain hemisphere takes over most mental processes. As a result, the learner may no longer have full access to the functions of the non-dominant hemisphere. One-sided learning can occur, thus affecting performance.

The Brain Gym® movements consciously activate the whole mind body system, stimulating nervous-system activity equally in all parts of the brain and lessening the flight/fight reaction. When learning is easy and stress-free the learner regains his/her innate interest in learning and is again motivated to achieve learning goals.