Physical activity and brain development

Author(s)

da Silva, Sergio Gomes ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Arida, Ricardo Mario ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi Das Cruzes, SP - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Inst Cerebro, Inst Israelita Ensino & Pesquisa Albert Einstein, BR-06780110 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] FCNM, Mogi Das Cruzes, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: EXPERT REVIEW OF NEUROTHERAPEUTICS; v. 15, n. 9, p. 1041-1051, 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Brain development is a complex process, and stimuli during this developmental period may modulate the brain's functional maturation and determine its lifelong integrity. Human and animal studies have shown that environmental stimuli such as physical activity habits seem to have a favorable influence on brain development. Research on humans has demonstrated improvement in cognitive performance in the children of women who exercised regularly throughout pregnancy and in individuals who were physically active during childhood and adolescence. Investigations using animal models have also reported that physical activity improves the cognitive function of developing rats. In this review, we will present the neurobiological mechanisms of such effects. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/00035-1 - Neural reserve induced by practice of physical activity in adolescence: a study of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), its receptors (TrkB e p75ntr) and intracellular signaling pathways
• Grantee: Sérgio Gomes da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/06953-4 - Brain plasticity induced by physical exercise
• Grantee: Ricardo Mario Arida
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants