| Linking brains and brawn: exercise and the evolution of human neurobiology. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 23173208 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
The hunting and gathering lifestyle adopted by human ancestors around 2 Ma required a large increase in aerobic activity. High levels of physical activity altered the shape of the human body, enabling access to new food resources (e.g. animal protein) in a changing environment. Recent experimental work provides strong evidence that both acute bouts of exercise and long-term exercise training increase the size of brain components and improve cognitive performance in humans and other taxa. However, to date, researchers have not explored the possibility that the increases in aerobic capacity and physical activity that occurred during human evolution directly influenced the human brain. Here, we hypothesize that proximate mechanisms linking physical activity and neurobiology in living species may help to explain changes in brain size and cognitive function during human evolution. We review evidence that selection acting on endurance increased baseline neurotrophin and growth factor signalling (compounds responsible for both brain growth and for metabolic regulation during exercise) in some mammals, which in turn led to increased overall brain growth and development. This hypothesis suggests that a significant portion of human neurobiology evolved due to selection acting on features unrelated to cognitive performance. |
| | |
Authors:
|
David A Raichlen; John D Polk |
Related Documents
:
|
22990628 - Exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling is modulated by intensity. 381628 - The effect of an alexidine mouthwash on plaque and gingivitis. 19036578 - Effects of the acidogenic biomass on the performance of an anaerobic membrane bioreacto... 16221528 - Degradation of aqueous solutions of camphor by heterogeneous photocatalysis. 20525718 - Exercise reduces airway sodium ion reabsorption in cystic fibrosis but not in exercise ... 16614008 - A pilot randomised controlled trial of a home-based exercise programme aimed at improvi... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: 280 ISSN: 1471-2954 ISO Abbreviation: Proc. Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2013 Jan |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2012-11-22 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: England |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 20122250 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, , Tucson, AZ 85721, USA, Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, , Urbana, IL 61801, USA, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, , Urbana, IL 61801, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Rapid action in the Palaeogene, the relationship between phenotypic and taxonomic diversification in...
Next Document: With that diet, you will go far: trait-based analysis reveals a link between rapid range expansion a...