Cited by 1,030Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsMemory and Neural MechanismsPhysical Activity and Health

Bridging animal and human models of exercise-induced brain plasticity

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Voss, Michelle W., Vivar, Carmen, Kramer, Arthur F., van Praag, Henriette·2013·Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Abstract

Significant progress has been made in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms through which exercise protects and restores the brain. In this feature review, we integrate animal and human research, examining physical activity effects across multiple levels of description (neurons up to inter-regional pathways). We evaluate the influence of exercise on hippocampal structure and function, addressing common themes such as spatial memory and pattern separation, brain structure and plasticity, neurotrophic factors, and vasculature. Areas of research focused more within species, such as hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents, also provide crucial insight into the protective role of physical activity. Overall, converging evidence suggests exercise benefits brain function and cognition across the mammalian lifespan, which may translate into reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.tics.2013.08.001

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  • Running induces an increase of performance in different hippocampus-dependent cognitive tasks, such as spatial memory and spatial pattern separation, novel object recognition, and contextual fear conditioning.

    “As for running, there is straightforward evidence that, in parallel with the surge of proliferation of progenitor cells, it induces an increase of performance in different hippocampus-dependent cognitive tasks, such as spatial memory and spatial pattern separation (Voss et al., 2013;Creer et al., 2010), or novel object recognition (Bolz et al., 2015) and contextual fear conditioning (Kohman et al.”
  • Physical activity stimulates neurogenic processes important for brain functioning, such as up-regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and stimulating neurogenesis and angiogenesis.

    “PA also stimulates a broad range of neurogenic processes important for proper brain functioning, such as up-regulating growth factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and stimulating neurogenesis and angiogenesis [74, 75]⁠.”
  • Physical activity has a particularly potent impact on improving hippocampal functioning, which may support stress response regulation and reduce post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

    “PA has a particularly potent impact on improving hippocampal functioning [75]⁠, which may support stress response regulation and reduce PTSD symptoms.”

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  1. [89]Intlekofer KA Cotman CW 2012 Exercise counteracts declining hippocampal function in aging and Alzheimer’s disease Neurobiol Dis 57 47 55 22750524

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Authors
Voss, M. W., Vivar, C., Kramer, A. F., & van Praag, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Iowa (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author
Voss, Michelle W.
Venue
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-10
Volume
17
Issue
10
Pages
525-544
ISSN
1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1963663193
Cited by
1,030
References
302
Citations by year
2026: 73 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 77 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 88 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 88 · 2019: 89 · 2018: 85 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 88 · 2014: 44 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
7.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (ZIAAG000328, R37AG025667)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
physical activity, neuroplasticity, hippocampus, spatial memory, pattern separation, neurotrophic factors, hippocampal neurogenesis, cerebral vasculature, cognitive function, Alzheimer's disease, animal models, human models
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Cognition, Hippocampus, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Exercise, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Epigenesis, Genetic, Neurogenesis

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