Abstract
The hippocampus has been shown to demonstrate a remarkable degree of plasticity in response to a variety of tasks and experiences. For example, the size of the human hippocampus has been shown to increase in response to aerobic exercise. However, it is currently unknown what underlies these changes. Here we scanned sedentary, young to middle-aged human adults before and after a six-week exercise intervention using nine different neuroimaging measures of brain structure, vasculature, and diffusion. We then tested two different hypotheses regarding the nature of the underlying changes in the tissue. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of a vascular change as has been previously reported. Rather, the pattern of changes is better explained by an increase in myelination. Finally, we show that hippocampal volume increase is temporary, returning to baseline after an additional six weeks without aerobic exercise. This is the first demonstration of a change in hippocampal volume in early to middle adulthood suggesting that hippocampal volume is modulated by aerobic exercise throughout the lifespan rather than only in the presence of age related atrophy. It is also the first demonstration of hippocampal volume change over a period of only six weeks, suggesting that gross morphometric hippocampal plasticity occurs faster than previously thought.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 162-170 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | NeuroImage |
| Volume | 131 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2016 |
Keywords
- Aging
- Angiogenesis
- Dentate gyrus
- Environmental enrichment
- Exercise
- Fitness
- Hippocampus
- Myelin
- Neurogenesis
- Plasticity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Cite this
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Multi-modal characterization of rapid anterior hippocampal volume increase associated with aerobic exercise. / Thomas, Adam G.; Dennis, Andrea; Rawlings, Nancy B.; Stagg, Charlotte J.; Matthews, Lucy; Morris, Martyn; Kolind, Shannon H.; Foxley, Sean; Jenkinson, Mark; Nichols, Thomas E.; Dawes, Helen; Bandettini, Peter A.; Johansen-Berg, Heidi.
In: NeuroImage, Vol. 131, 01.05.2016, p. 162-170.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Multi-modal characterization of rapid anterior hippocampal volume increase associated with aerobic exercise
AU - Thomas, Adam G.
AU - Dennis, Andrea
AU - Rawlings, Nancy B.
AU - Stagg, Charlotte J.
AU - Matthews, Lucy
AU - Morris, Martyn
AU - Kolind, Shannon H.
AU - Foxley, Sean
AU - Jenkinson, Mark
AU - Nichols, Thomas E.
AU - Dawes, Helen
AU - Bandettini, Peter A.
AU - Johansen-Berg, Heidi
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - The hippocampus has been shown to demonstrate a remarkable degree of plasticity in response to a variety of tasks and experiences. For example, the size of the human hippocampus has been shown to increase in response to aerobic exercise. However, it is currently unknown what underlies these changes. Here we scanned sedentary, young to middle-aged human adults before and after a six-week exercise intervention using nine different neuroimaging measures of brain structure, vasculature, and diffusion. We then tested two different hypotheses regarding the nature of the underlying changes in the tissue. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of a vascular change as has been previously reported. Rather, the pattern of changes is better explained by an increase in myelination. Finally, we show that hippocampal volume increase is temporary, returning to baseline after an additional six weeks without aerobic exercise. This is the first demonstration of a change in hippocampal volume in early to middle adulthood suggesting that hippocampal volume is modulated by aerobic exercise throughout the lifespan rather than only in the presence of age related atrophy. It is also the first demonstration of hippocampal volume change over a period of only six weeks, suggesting that gross morphometric hippocampal plasticity occurs faster than previously thought.
AB - The hippocampus has been shown to demonstrate a remarkable degree of plasticity in response to a variety of tasks and experiences. For example, the size of the human hippocampus has been shown to increase in response to aerobic exercise. However, it is currently unknown what underlies these changes. Here we scanned sedentary, young to middle-aged human adults before and after a six-week exercise intervention using nine different neuroimaging measures of brain structure, vasculature, and diffusion. We then tested two different hypotheses regarding the nature of the underlying changes in the tissue. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of a vascular change as has been previously reported. Rather, the pattern of changes is better explained by an increase in myelination. Finally, we show that hippocampal volume increase is temporary, returning to baseline after an additional six weeks without aerobic exercise. This is the first demonstration of a change in hippocampal volume in early to middle adulthood suggesting that hippocampal volume is modulated by aerobic exercise throughout the lifespan rather than only in the presence of age related atrophy. It is also the first demonstration of hippocampal volume change over a period of only six weeks, suggesting that gross morphometric hippocampal plasticity occurs faster than previously thought.
KW - Aging
KW - Angiogenesis
KW - Dentate gyrus
KW - Environmental enrichment
KW - Exercise
KW - Fitness
KW - Hippocampus
KW - Myelin
KW - Neurogenesis
KW - Plasticity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84955575520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.090
DO - 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.090
M3 - Article
VL - 131
SP - 162
EP - 170
JO - NeuroImage
T2 - NeuroImage
JF - NeuroImage
SN - 1053-8119
ER -