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Exercise rewires the brain — boosting the body’s endurance
Repeated treadmill exercise doubled excitatory synapses in VMH SF1 neurons, boosting mice running endurance by about 400 meters on average, researchers at University of Pennsylvania found.
- According to a study published today in Neuron, repeated treadmill training over three weeks, five days a week, strengthened wiring in mice VMH and made SF1 neurons quicker to activate, enabling longer, faster exercise before exhaustion.
- The researchers said they wanted to understand what happens in the brain after exercise, focusing on the VMH because it regulates energy and integrates metabolic signals, challenging peripheral tissue-only views.
- Measurements showed that repeated running nearly doubled dendritic spine density and excitatory synapses on SF1 neurons, while by day eight about 53 per cent were active versus less than 32 per cent on day one.
- Optogenetic activation of SF1 neurons produced `Herculean` endurance, with mice running more than double distance while blocking activity prevented gains over two weeks.
- Further research in humans is now needed to determine whether VMH SF1 neurons show similar exercise-induced changes and could help older adults or stroke patients, but safety risks like blood sugar drops remain.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Researchers have identified a previously overlooked area in the brain of mice that influences endurance. It is active during training, but also clearly after it. In humans, it could be similar.
Reprogram some neurons that increase resistance, the mechanism observed in mice (ANSA)
NewScientist
Los Angeles Weekly TimesEndurance brain cells may determine how long you can run for
The activity of certain neurons may influence our endurance for exercise, and these could be targeted to help us run faster for longer
Scientists Discover a Brain Circuit That Enhances Physical Endurance In Mice
The effects of exercise would not be nearly as powerful without the input of the brain, according to new research. A study on mice has found a critical signal in the central nervous system that helps build physical endurance in the wider body after repeated exercise. Traditionally, scientists thought that our body's extensive response to frequent exercise occurred mainly in the periphery, such as the bones and muscles, and the heart. But researc…
If the ability to exercise increases with training, it is thanks to a small group of neurons located in the hypothalamus that allow muscles and the heart to perform more while reducing the feeling of fatigue. This is indicated by a research by the University of Pennsylvania conducted on mice whose results are considered extrapolable to people.Continue reading...
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