Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Exercise In Developing Rats Promotes Plasticity In The Prefrontal Cortex: Behavioral And Neurobiological Indications, Meghan Eddy

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Physical exercise has repeatedly been shown to trigger positive effects on brain function including improved learning, memory, and executive functions. In addition, corresponding physiological changes have been observed, such as increased neurotrophic factors, changes in neurotransmitter concentrations, and increased dendritic spines. However, these changes have not been well described outside of the hippocampus, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and have not been directly compared at different points of development. Because the prefrontal cortex is one of the last brain areas to fully mature, considering the age at which intervention, such as exercise, takes place is particularly important. Additionally, in …