Exercising the body can exercise the mind. In a recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports, the effects of cardiovascular exercise (CE) on motor performance were analyzed. Two groups participated in the study, one engaging in CE for two weeks, and the other not engaging in CE for two weeks. The results showed that CE induced functional brain changes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans showed that there were also changes in the white and gray matter in the brains of the exercising group, indicating that cardiovascular activity and higher neural plasticity capabilities are related.
White and gray matter refer to the material that makes up the brain. Gray matter contains all of the cell bodies, dendrites – responsible for receiving cellular communication, and axon terminals – where the synapses are and neurotransmitters are exchanged. The white matter is made up of axons, which are the part of the neuron that connect areas of gray matter to one another, so that cellular information not just be communicated between neurons in the same area, as seen in gray matter, but also between entirely different sections of neurons throughout the brain.
“Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans showed that there were also changes in the white and gray matter in the brains of the exercising group, indicating that cardiovascular activity and higher neural plasticity capabilities are related.”
Neural plasticity is the ability of the brain to change activity in response to stimuli – both internal and external. The brain can reorganize function, structure, and even connectivity. The study occurred over the course of six weeks, which followed the initial two-week CE or no CE period. Brain performance levels were measured at the beginning and end. The baseline performance was the same between the two groups, but in the group that participated in CE, significantly quicker learning was observed compared to the control group. The authors suggested that CE improves motor learning rate by increasing cerebral blood flow to the frontal lobe, specifically the motor cortex, which is responsible for motor function. This increased blood flow also allows for more connections to be formed with other areas of the brain, increasing white matter composition.
Since white matter plasticity mediates motor learning, it may be possible in the future to target specific areas of the brain and increase plasticity within them utilizing the mechanisms highlighted in the study. Implementing CE into the routines of individuals with neurological impairments such as Parkinson’s, could potentially help increase motor function. These findings open a whole new window for the future of cardiovascular and neurological health.
