Did you know that scientists have located a part of the brain that controls our reaction to stress? Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found a specific circuit in the brain that reacts to stress and determined that physical exercise improves that specific part of the brain's ability to be resilient. Basically, the research confirms what a lot of us have believed for a while - that physical activity lowers stress levels. But more than that, consistent physical exercise wards off depression and mood disorders.
Scientists at the NIMH located this circuit in the brain by using lab tests on mice. Groups of mice who have lived a basically sedentary life are put in close quarters with mice who have had plenty of opportunity to exercise. (Mice, especially males, tend to get intensely aggressive when they are housed together in confined spaces.) In this environment, the mice who had lived a basically sedentary life exhibited greater signs of depression (especially after losing a confrontation with another mouse - what the researchers termed a "social defeat" - like losing a big argument at the office) and retreated into the more isolated and dark parts of the testing space. Meanwhile, the mice who had gotten plenty of exercise handled social defeats better, staying active, and stayed close to the rest of the mice in lighted areas.
A central target of this research is understanding how stress contributes to mood disorders and why some animals and people seem resilient to the same stresses that can make others ill. The NIMH and others are trying to determine if there are ways to fix abnormalities in how the brain deals with fear memories or other stressors.
It's an interesting concept that makes sense. If you exercise, on a consistent basis, not only will your body be more resilient to fighting disease, but your mind will be more resilient as well.
What do you think of this research? Does it make sense? How does your activity level affect your mood and ability to handle the stress in your life? Post a comment here, on Facebook or on Twitter.
Scientists at the NIMH located this circuit in the brain by using lab tests on mice. Groups of mice who have lived a basically sedentary life are put in close quarters with mice who have had plenty of opportunity to exercise. (Mice, especially males, tend to get intensely aggressive when they are housed together in confined spaces.) In this environment, the mice who had lived a basically sedentary life exhibited greater signs of depression (especially after losing a confrontation with another mouse - what the researchers termed a "social defeat" - like losing a big argument at the office) and retreated into the more isolated and dark parts of the testing space. Meanwhile, the mice who had gotten plenty of exercise handled social defeats better, staying active, and stayed close to the rest of the mice in lighted areas.
A central target of this research is understanding how stress contributes to mood disorders and why some animals and people seem resilient to the same stresses that can make others ill. The NIMH and others are trying to determine if there are ways to fix abnormalities in how the brain deals with fear memories or other stressors.
It's an interesting concept that makes sense. If you exercise, on a consistent basis, not only will your body be more resilient to fighting disease, but your mind will be more resilient as well.
What do you think of this research? Does it make sense? How does your activity level affect your mood and ability to handle the stress in your life? Post a comment here, on Facebook or on Twitter.
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