What mechanisms explain the positive psychological benefits of exercise such as reducing anxiety and depression and boosting well-being?

What will be an ideal response?


Although the mechanisms are not empirically established, hypotheses fall into two camps, physiological and psychological. Physiological hypotheses mainly center on (1) facilitating synaptic transmission of brain monoamines or (2) boosting brain endorphin levels. The monoamines are the "feel good" neurotransmitters present in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. If exercise facilitates monoamine action in the brain, then it should produce anti-depressant effects just as anti-depressant medications boost mood states. There is some suggestive evidence that serotonin metabolism increases after exercise due to an increase in the brain's supply of serotonin's precursor molecules, but more research is needed to confirm the monoamine hypothesis.

Psychology

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The relationship between intelligence test scores and creativity is ___________

a. major c. significant b. moderate d. insignificant

Psychology

Which of the following is not a way in which families have changed over about the last 50 years?

a. Women are postponing childbirth until later ages. b. There are more single-gender families (gay and lesbian parents). c. Women with young children are less apt to work out of the home. d. Families are smaller; couples are having fewer children.

Psychology

Which best describes sensory changes during middle childhood?

a. Hearing problems increase due to higher rates of ear infections. b. The incidence of myopia increases c. Vision and hearing both improve dramatically. d. Rates of farsightedness increase while myopia decreases.

Psychology

Nonverbal leakage refers to

a. the importance of nonverbal information for determining how intelligent a person is b. the fact that people's nonverbal behavior may display emotions that they are trying to conceal c. people's inability to control their nonverbal behavior when they are happy or excited d. none of the above

Psychology