Exercise rewires the brain — boosting the body’s endurance

Exercise isn’t just about building stronger muscles; new research suggests it fundamentally changes how the brain learns and adapts to physical exertion. A study published in Neuron reveals that repeated exercise strengthens connections within the brain of mice, making specific neurons more readily activated – a process crucial for improving running endurance.

Brain’s Role in Endurance

The Unexpected Discovery

Nicholas Betley, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a co-author of the study, expressed surprise at the findings. “You go for a run, and your lungs expand, your heart gets pumping better, your muscles break down and rebuild. All this great stuff happens, and the next time, it gets easier,” Betley says. “I didn’t expect that the brain was coordinating all of that.”

Did You Know? A previous study found that impairing the function of the SF1 gene – a protein produced by specific neurons – negatively impacts endurance in mice.

Focus on the Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Betley and his team focused their research on the ventromedial hypothalamus, a region of the brain known to regulate appetite and blood sugar. Within this region, they investigated neurons that produce steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1), a protein involved in metabolism. Researchers monitored the activity of these SF1 neurons in mice while they ran on a treadmill.

How Neurons Change with Training

The study found that SF1 neurons were activated during exercise. Notably, a specific group of these neurons became active after exercise sessions concluded. As the mice underwent repeated training, both the number of these post-run activated neurons and the strength of their activation increased.

After three weeks of consistent training, researchers observed changes in the electrical properties of the SF1 neurons in trained mice compared to those who hadn’t exercised. These neurons became easier to activate. Repeated exercise doubled the number of ‘excitatory’ synapses – the connections between neurons primed to transmit signals.

Expert Insight: This research highlights the brain’s active role in adapting to physical training, suggesting that improvements in endurance aren’t solely a result of physiological changes in muscles and cardiovascular systems. The brain appears to be a key coordinator in the process of becoming physically fitter.

What This Could Mean for the Future

these findings could eventually inform strategies to enhance exercise performance or even aid in the recovery from physical exertion. Further research may explore whether similar neural changes occur in humans during endurance training. Scientists could also investigate if interventions targeting these brain regions could potentially improve physical capabilities. This proves also likely that future studies will examine the role of SF1 neurons in other forms of exercise beyond running.

Frequently Asked Questions

What part of the brain was studied?

The study focused on the ventromedial hypothalamus, a brain region that regulates appetite and blood sugar.

What protein was key to the study’s findings?

Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) was a key protein studied, as it is produced by specific neurons and plays a role in regulating metabolism.

What happened to the synapses in the brains of the trained mice?

Repeated exercise doubled the number of ‘excitatory’ synapses – the connections between neurons – that were primed to fire off an electrical signal.

How might understanding the brain’s role in endurance change our approach to fitness and training?