Longitudinal functional connectivity changes correlate with mood improvement after regular exercise in a...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Exercise is known to improve mood and wellbeing.
• The precise neural mechanisms linking physical activity to mood enhancement remain unclear.
• Investigating resting-state brain network modifications offers insight into exercise's psychological benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how extended aerobic exercise alters resting-state functional brain networks in healthy adults.
• To identify specific functional brain network changes associated with exercise-induced mood improvements.
• To explore the relationship between altered brain connectivity, mood changes, and exercise duration.

Main Methods:

• A 16-week randomized controlled trial involving 38 healthy sedentary adults.
• Participants were assigned to either an aerobic exercise group or a control group.
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and graph metrics were used to analyze brain network modifications before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• The aerobic exercise group showed significant reductions in mood disturbance and improvements in emotional wellbeing.
• Exercise led to decreased local efficiency in the parahippocampal lobe, associated with strengthened functional connections to the supramarginal gyrus, precentral area, superior temporal gyrus, and temporal pole.
• Mood improvements were correlated with changes in connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus, and with the total amount of exercise completed.

Conclusions:

• Regular aerobic exercise strengthens functional connectivity from the parahippocampal gyrus to brain regions involved in motor function, sensory integration, and mood regulation.
• These exercise-induced neural adaptations may underlie the positive effects of physical activity on mood and emotional wellbeing.
• The findings highlight specific brain network alterations that serve as a physiological basis for the mood benefits of exercise.