Exercise that engages the cardiovascular system has a myriad of effects on the body; however, we usually do not give much
consideration to the benefits it may have for our minds. An increasing body of evidence suggests that exercise can have some
remarkable effects on the brain. In this article, we will introduce how exercise can impact the capacity for neurons in the
brain to communicate with one another. To properly convey this information, we will first briefly introduce the field of synaptic
plasticity and then examine how the introduction of exercise to the experimental setting can actually alter the basic properties
of synaptic plasticity in the brain. Next, we will examine some of the candidate physiological processes that might underlay
these alterations. Finally, we will close by noting that, taken together, this data points toward our brains being dynamic
systems that are in a continual state of flux and that physical exercise may help us to maximize the performance of both our
body and our minds.
Keywords Exercise - Neurogenesis - Synaptic plasticity - Vasculature - Neurotrophins - NMDA - Serotonin