Overview
In addition to the countless physical benefits, exercise can have psychological benefits. Studies show that exercise can increase the amounts of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin in your brain. The increased levels of neurotransmitters can help treat disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and depression, as well as help you to feel more energetic overall.
Function
Your brain produces the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine so that your brain cells can communicate. According to McGill University's website, dopamine helps your brain execute motor movements and regulate your mood and concentration. Your brain uses serotonin to regulate your body temperature, mood, and appetite, among other things. Low levels of serotonin are thought to cause depression.
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Exercise and Dopamine
In a May 2007 article in the "Journal of Neuroscience," neuroscientist Gizelle Petzinger and colleagues note that exercise may cause the brain cells that use dopamine to work more efficiently. The study shows that the dopamine-releasing neurons of rats who ran on a treadmill released more dopamine than rats who did not exercise. The dopamine also remained active longer in the rats who ran on a treadmill.
Exercise and Serotonin
In a November 2007 article in the "Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience," Dr. Simon Young notes that exercise may increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, referencing studies, which indicate that physical activity results in higher levels of the molecules 5-HIAA and tryptophan in the body. The body uses 5-HIAA and tryptophan to produce serotonin.
Benefits of Increased Dopamine
Exercise may help people who suffer from Parkinson's disease by reducing damage to brain cells that release dopamine. In an August 2007 article in the journal "Neuroscience Letters," M. C. Yoon and colleagues reported that rats that exercised on a treadmill 30 minutes a day for two weeks lost less dopamine-releasing cells than rats that performed no exercise.
Benefits of Increased Serotonin
In the November 2007 article in the "Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience," Dr. Simon Young notes that exercise is commonly used as a treatment for mild depression, because of its serotonin-increasing effects. Dr. Young says that aerobic exercise, such as jogging, biking and swimming, works best to treat mild depression. Also, according to "Fitness Magazine," the increase in serotonin from aerobic exercise boosts your energy levels.
Read more:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/251785-exercise-and-its-effects-on-serotonin-dopamine-levels/#ixzz1CLBbikVH