Scientists have determined that the brain's role in increasing endurance after physical exercise is greater than we think. A new study in the field of neurophysiology has shown that special nerve cells activated in the brain immediately after exercise send signals to the muscles to help them strengthen and adapt.
Medianews.az reports that the research was conducted by scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, Jackson Laboratory, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The results of the study were published in the scientific journal "Neuron".
The scientists state that until now, endurance was mainly thought to be related to changes occurring in the cardiovascular system and muscles. However, new results show that the brain actively participates in this process and coordinates the body's adaptation to physical activity.
During the study, a series of experiments were conducted on mice. It was observed that mice in which the activity of specific nerve cells in the brain was halted became fatigued more quickly during running and did not show increased endurance despite exercise. In normal mice, both running duration and physical stamina increased after regular exercise.
The researchers also discovered an interesting detail during the study. It was found that some cells in the brain become more active not during exercise but immediately after exercise. According to experts, this stage plays a decisive role in the body's adaptation process.
Kevin Williams, one of the authors of the study, stated that the brain is not merely an observer during physical exercise: "The brain actively participates in changes that make a person more enduring over time."
The study also showed that regular physical activity leads to the formation of new neural connections in the brain. It was determined that the connections between nerve cells are stronger in exercising mice.
Scientists believe that deeper exploration of these mechanisms in the future could help develop new treatments related to metabolic diseases and physical weakness. Nevertheless, the authors of the study emphasize that these results do not reduce the importance of physical movement, and currently the research has been conducted only on animals.