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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Wheel Running and Environmental Complexity as a Therapeutic Intervention in an Animal Model of FASD

Wheel Running and Environmental Complexity as a Therapeutic Intervention in an Animal Model of FASD

Published on: February 2, 2017

Why and how physical activity promotes experience-induced brain plasticity.

Gerd Kempermann¹, Klaus Fabel, Dan Ehninger

¹Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, German Research Foundation Dresden, Germany.

Frontiers in Neuroscience

|December 15, 2010

Summary

Physical activity and environmental enrichment enhance adult neurogenesis through distinct cellular mechanisms. Physical activity promotes precursor cell proliferation, while enrichment aids immature neuron survival, with additive effects when combined.

Keywords:

evolution exercise hippocampus learning reserve

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cellular Biology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is a unique form of brain plasticity involving the addition of new neurons.
Stimuli like physical and cognitive activity influence this process.
Animal studies often isolate physical (e.g., wheel running) and cognitive (e.g., environmental enrichment) activities.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the distinct and combined effects of physical activity and environmental enrichment on adult neurogenesis.
To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying activity-dependent neurogenesis.
To understand the interplay between physical activity, cognitive challenges, and neural plasticity.

Main Methods:

Utilized animal models to study voluntary wheel running (physical activity) and environmental enrichment (cognitive stimulation).
Examined cellular-level mechanisms, including precursor cell proliferation and immature neuron survival.
Assessed the additive effects of combined physical and cognitive activities on neurogenesis.

Main Results:

Voluntary wheel running increased proliferation and maintenance of neural precursor cells.
Environmental enrichment and learning predominantly enhanced the survival of immature neurons.
The effects of physical activity and environmental enrichment were found to be additive, suggesting synergistic impacts on neurogenesis.

Conclusions:

Physical activity may act as an intrinsic feedback signal, priming the brain for cognitive challenges.
The separation of physical and cognitive activity is artificial; in natural settings, they are intertwined.
Physical activity is a fundamental aspect of 'activity' essential for regulating brain plasticity and adaptation.