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The neuroscience of fitness, a fascinating intersection of physical activity and brain health, is a rapidly developing area of research. This field explores the profound effects of regular exercise on our brain and nervous system, revealing significant implications for our overall health and quality of life.
One key discovery is the relationship between exercise and neurogenesis – the creation of new brain cells. This primarily occurs in the hippocampus, an area of the brain fundamental to learning and memory.
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Exercise also leads to an increase in the levels of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These chemicals play an essential role in mood regulation, mental alertness, and focus, potentially explaining why physical activity is often associat...
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The benefits of fitness extend beyond the brain. Regular physical activity reduces inflammation in the body, which can positively impact the brain as chronic inflammation is tied to various neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
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Moreover, aerobic exercises have been linked to the preservation of white and gray matter in the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortexes, areas that typically shrink with age and are vital for cognitive function.
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Regular physical activity also improves sleep quality, a critical factor in brain health. Enhanced sleep quality allows for better memory consolidation and more efficient toxin removal from the brain.
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Despite these promising findings, there’s still much to explore in the neuroscience of fitness. Questions remain about how different forms of exercise (such as aerobic versus resistance training) impact the brain and how factors like age, genetics, and initial fitness level may i...
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Physical activity promotes brain plasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections throughout life. This is especially important for recovery from a brain injury and counteracting the cognitive decline associated with aging.
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Additionally, exercise can enhance various cognitive functions, including attention, working memory, executive function, and cognitive flexibility. The prefrontal cortex, a brain area responsible for these functions, appears to respond positively to physical exercise, likely due ...
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Regular physical activity triggers the release of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which nurtures existing neurons and encourages the growth and development of new neurons and synapses.
Aerobic exercises like running and swimming ...
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Despite ongoing research, the current evidence underscores the powerful role of physical activity in promoting brain health and cognitive function, emphasizing the importance of integrating regular exercise into our lifestyles.
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We've been long told that adults have only so many brain cells and that we never form new ones and that once these cells are lost, they're gone for good.
However, in recent years, experts have discovered evidence that the statement above isn't true. The human adult brain does indeed still ...
When new neurons are born from stem cells within the brain, which can then form new circuits. Neurogenesis surprisingly only happens in a few areas in the brain. One area is the hippocampus which needs a lot of new neurons because it encodes
The time cells are situated in the hippocampus and another area of the brain involved in navigation, memory and time perception.
The time cells are marking out discrete segments of time within an approximately 30-second window, explaining why people who have damage to the hippocampus m...
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