According to the findings, the more physical activity the animals had, the more connections were formed between neurons in their brains, which, in turn, positively influenced their endurance.
Researchers focused on how physical training affects the brains of humans. In particular, they studied the hypothalamus and neurons that produce the protein SF1, which is important for metabolism. Previously, while studying mice, scientists found that the removal of the gene responsible for SF1 weakened their endurance. Consequently, they concentrated on investigating the activity of SF1 neurons in mice during physical exertion. The results, reported by the journal Nature, turned out to be diverse.
Firstly, the number of neurons and their activation levels increased after several training sessions. Secondly, a specific group of neurons was activated only after the exercises were completed. Finally, the study of brain tissue showed that the electrical characteristics of neurons changed after regular training, and the number of synapses doubled.
“The results of the study highlight the importance of SF1 neurons in enhancing endurance. That is, the more you train, the more synapses are activated, which can improve your endurance,” noted one of the authors of the study, Jeffrey Zigman. At least in mice, the activation of SF1 neurons led to improvements in endurance and strength.
In the future, researchers plan to explore the possibility of applying these results to treat muscle mass deficiency through the stimulation of SF1 neurons. Such discoveries may also benefit athletes seeking to enhance their performance.
