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Is Exercise good for the Brain ?| old_uid | 9709 |
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| title | Is Exercise good for the Brain ? |
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| start_date | 2011/02/24 |
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| schedule | 10h30 |
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| online | no |
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| summary | The brain monoamines serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) are involved in the onset of fatigue, in both normal and high ambient temperatures. Studies from our lab that focus on the influence of pharmacological manipulations on brain neurotransmitter activity and it’s possible influence on performance showed that the inhibition of the reuptake of both dopamine and noradrenaline, were capable of detecting changes in performance, specifically when ambient temperature was high. It was shown that dopamine significantly enhanced performance, coinciding with the attainment of high core temperatures and higher heart rates, without any change in thermosensation or the perception of effort. It seems that the safety mechanisms in the body are overridden due to increased dopaminergic activity. Increased brain concentration of noradrenaline strongly decreased performance in the heat and no negative effect of serotonin could be detected. Dopamine and noradrenaline are prominent in innervated areas of the hypothalamus, therefore changes in the catecholaminergic concentrations may also be expected to be involved with the regulation of body core temperature during exercise in the heat. The exact mechanism of fatigue is not known; presumably a complex interplay between both peripheral and central factors induces fatigue. Central fatigue will be determined by the collaboration of the different neurotransmitter systems, with the most important role possibly being for the catecholamines dopamine and noradrenaline. The capacity of physical activity to maintain and compensate for deterioration of neural function is becoming increasingly recognized. Physical exercise can preserve cognitive function in elderly populations, promote functional recovery after CNS traumatic injury, and induce neurogenesis in the adult CNS. Physical activity also increases trophic factor production in select regions of the brain. It is known that exercise increases brain neurotransmission and that repeated exercise (training) will influence baseline neurotransmitter release. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a crucial effector of experience-dependent plasticity. It is a neurotrophin that acts as a regulator of the survival, growth, and differentiation of neurons. Since the early nineties, studies started to investigate the effects of physical activity, acute exercise and/or training on levels of BDNF. The first human studies examined the effects of exercise on peripheral BDNF in subjects with a neurodegenerative disease (i.e., multiple sclerosis patients) in order to explore the restorative potential of exercise in this particular disease. Several other studies on the effects of acute exercise and/or training on BDNF in humans have been carried out, of which most concern healthy subjects. We will report some recent data from our lab. |
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| responsibles | Hoffmann, Marin |
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