New study sheds light on exercise's impact on brain

CBS News

 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_162-57592433/new-study-sheds-light-on-exercises-impact-on-brain/

Exercise can lower anxiety, but how it does so remains a mystery.
Now, an new study conducted at Princeton University, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, may offer clues as to what happens in the brain.

Conducted on mice, the study was done on two groups of the animals. The first group was given a good amount of exercise and the other was more sedentary, Upon studying their brains, researcher found both groups had formed new brain cell called neurons, but the exercisers formed more neurons that release the neurotrasmitter GABA, which has a calming effect on the brain.

 Dr. Holly Phillips noted on "CBS This Morning", that GABA is know to reduce anxiety. In fact, many prescription anxiety drugs cause the brain to release GABA. "These cells help to calm down the brain and hence fight anxiety," she said.

It's also likely, Phillips said, that the results will translate very well into humans, She said, "We've suspected for a very long time that GABA would, of course, be involved and now, there's just extra (evidence ) of that." Exercise actually changes the brain permanently, Phillips pointed out, It changes the types of cells that are there. Phillips added, "This is important because then it has lasting effects. Even 24 hours after exercise, you;re less prone to experience anxiety symptoms."

Phillips says exercising 30 minutes four days a week can help, based on other studies on exercise. She added, "For anxiety in particular, high-intensity exercise is really important and also we're always looking for natural alternatives. Some of the anti-anxiety medications can be habit-forming ad anytime we can do something where we don't need to take a medication, of course, is a good thing."

 I couldn't find the original article in the current issue.

Gamma Aminobutyric acid, or  GABA, is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. GABA plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system and modulate muscle tone of the body.It's kind a interesting that active movement of the body results in producing the neurons that create the inhibitory neurotransmuitter.

^{Even the time when I was extremely busy, I have been trying to do exercise so that I could be released from the stress I had, and my attempt has been shown as effective.  The personal experience convinces me to believe the result of the study although this has been only done on animals.}