Explain how exercise enhances the brain's learning capacity, touching on the role of the protein BDNF.
What will be an ideal response?
Emerging research shows that exercise allows the brain to function at its best through a combination of biological reactions. First, exercise increases blood flow to the brain, providing oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients; and improving the removal of metabolic waste products. The increased blood and oxygen flow also prompt the release of the protein Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This protein works by strengthening connections between brain cells and repairing any damage within them. BDNF also stimulates the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus, the portion of the brain involved in memory, planning, learning, and decision-making. The hippocampus is one of only two parts of the adult brain where new cells can be generated. The connections strengthened by BDNF are critical for learning to take place and for memories to be stored. Exercise provides the necessary stimulus for brain neurons to interconnect, creating the perfect environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to learn.
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