User:Turtleumd123/Neurobiological effects of physical exercise

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There are numerous neurobiological effects of physical exercise that involve a wide range of interrelated effects on brain structure, brain function, and cognition. Past research has demonstrated that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day(cardiovascular exercise that gets a person's heart rate up) induces persistent improvements in certain cognitive functions, healthy alterations in gene expression in the brain, and beneficial forms of neuroplasticity and behavioral plasticity. Long term effects of these include: increased neuron growth, increased neurological activity (e.g., c-Fos and BDNF signaling), improved stress coping, enhanced cognitive control of behavior, improved declarative, spatial, and working memory, and structural and functional improvements in brain structures and pathwaysassociated with cognitive control and memory. The effects of exercise on cognition have important implications for improving academic performance in children and college students through the production of new growth factors, improving adult productivity by stimulating the development of new mitochondria, preserving cognitive function in old age, preventing or treating certain neurological disorders, and improving overall quality of life(improving brain health, weight management, and bone strengthening).

In healthy adults, aerobic exercise has been shown to induce transient effects on cognition after a single exercise session and persistent effects on cognition following consistent exercise over the course of several months. People who regularly perform an aerobic exercise (e.g., running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, and cycling) have greater scores on neuropsychological function and performance tests that measure certain cognitive functions, such as attentional control, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory updating and capacity, declarative memory, spatial memory, and information processing speed. Aditionally, aerobic exercise increases gray matter in the brain of healthy adults. Past findings have shown changes in the frontal lobe of the brain follwowing exercise, suggesting that it has a beneficial affect on the brain area(frontal lobe) that controls executive funtions. Increasing production of gray matter allows for further mental development and allows for higher mental processing in an individual.

Aerobic exercise has both short and long term effects on mood and emotional states by promoting positive affect, inhibiting negative affect, and decreasing the biological response to acute psychological stress. Short term aerobic exercise promotes positive affect by promoting relaxation and reducing the tension associated with anxiety in individuals. Aerobic exercise can improve both self- esteem and overall well-being(including sleep patterns) with consistent, long term participation. Aerobic exercise inhibits negative affect by releasing endorphins that uplift mood and relieve symptoms of depression. Long term aerobic exercise decreases the biological responses to stress by reducing the bodys production of stress hormones(adrenaline and cortisol).

References:

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-can-boost-your-memory-and-thinking-skills#:~:text=Exercise%20stimulates%20physiological%20changes%20in,health%20of%20new%20brain%20cells.
2. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/exercise-increases-productivity/#:~:text=Physical%20exercise%20stimulates%20the%20development,brain%2C%20boosting%20your%20mental%20output.
3. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm#:~:text=Being%20physically%20active%20can%20improve,ability%20to%20do%20everyday%20activities.
4. https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/2020/02/12/exercise-speaks-volumes-for-gray-matter/#:~:text=Cardiorespiratory%20fitness%20was%20measured%20using,with%20increased%20gray%20matter%20volume.
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553239/#:~:text=%5B7%5D%20After%20year%20eight%2C,mental%20development%20of%20the%20individual.
6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/aerobic-exercise/art-20045541#:~:text=Boost%20your%20mood,can%20also%20improve%20your%20sleep.
7. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287650#:~:text=Moderate%20aerobic%20exercise%20can%20stimulate,anxiety%20and%20depression%20%5B51%5D.
8. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax#:~:text=The%20mental%20benefits%20of%20aerobic,natural%20painkillers%20and%20mood%20elevators.