Research published Thursday confirms a link between physical exercise and improved cognitive function, revealing the neurological mechanisms behind the commonly reported feeling of mental clarity following a workout. The study, appearing in the journal Neuron, details how exercise triggers changes in brain activity that lead to physiological and metabolic improvements, using genetically modified mice with brain structures similar to humans.
“Many people report feeling more alert and focused after exercising, and that led us to investigate what happens in the brain during and after physical activity,” said Nicholas Betley, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and part of the international team conducting the study, which included scientists from institutions in the United States and Japan.
Researchers observed increased brain activity in the mice after running on treadmills, particularly in neurons located in the ventromedial hypothalamus – a region of the brain that regulates energy expenditure, including body weight and blood sugar levels. Monitoring neuronal activity during exercise revealed that a specific group of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus, known as steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) neurons, were activated when the animals ran.
Crucially, these SF-1 neurons remained active for at least one hour after the mice stopped running. After two weeks of daily treadmill exercise, the mice demonstrated increased endurance, running faster and for longer periods before fatigue. Further observation revealed that after 14 days of treadmill exercise, the rodents exhibited greater activation of SF-1 neurons, and with increased intensity, compared to the beginning of the training when they were not exercising.
When researchers blocked the activity of SF-1 neurons, preventing them from sending signals to the rest of the brain, the mice quickly became fatigued and showed no improvements in endurance, metabolism, or blood flow during the two-week training period. “This result indicates that SF-1 neurons are vital for activating neural circuits and strengthening the brain after exercise,” Betley stated in a University of Pennsylvania press release.
The research suggests that activated SF-1 neurons help the body recover more efficiently, utilizing stored glucose more effectively. This allows other parts of the body, such as muscles, lungs, and the heart, to adapt more quickly to intense exercise and become stronger.
Coral Sanfeliu, a neuroscientist at the Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona, suggested the findings could lead to recent therapies. “This discovery could, in the future, allow us to enhance training by activating SF-1 neuronal circuits, or even without exercise. This would allow people with reduced mobility to benefit from the brain benefits of physical exercise,” Sanfeliu said in a statement released by the Science Media Centre.
Recent scientific studies have consistently demonstrated that regular physical activity, even in short, moderate bursts like taking extra steps each day, improves cognitive, emotional, and overall brain function. Research also indicates that these cerebral benefits can be inherited from parents to children, according to the source material.
Platforms like Neuron Gym (https://neurongym.com/) offer brain training programs designed to improve cognitive skills, although apps like Train The Brain (https://trainthebrain.app/pt) provide free cognitive training games focused on memory, concentration, and problem-solving. Other apps, such as those listed by TechTudo (https://www.techtudo.com.br/listas/2024/08/exercicios-para-o-cerebro-8-apps-para-deixar-os-neuronios-em-dia-edapps.ghtml), offer a variety of exercises to stimulate cognitive abilities.