Exercise not only has physical benefits for your body, it also can have psychological effects as well. Running sets off a chain reaction in your body that can stimulate chemicals called neurotransmitters to and from the brain. Neurotransmitters are responsible for producing sensations such as the happiness of a runner's high or a feeling of stress relief after exercising.
Endorphins
When produced, endorphins specifically target the limbic and prefrontal areas of the brain. These areas are associated with emotion and feelings. Released endorphins are associated with the phenomenon distance runners experience known as a runner's high. In addition to boosting runners' moods, endorphins also can increase pain tolerance. When tested for pain threshold, runners had a higher pain tolerance than their non-runner counterparts, according to Dr. Henning Boecker, a researcher at the University of Bonn in Germany. Endorphins also are associated with addiction -- drug addicts have been shown to increase endorphin levels, according to a paper published in the neuroscience journal "Impulse." This phenomenon may explain why some avid runners claim they are "addicted" to running.
Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood, appetite, sleep cycles and libido. In addition to exercising, serotonin also is released when you eat foods like turkey or carbohydrates. Artificial serotonin is given to depression sufferers to reduce depression symptoms to stimulate serotonin receptors in the brain and boost your mood. Regular exercise can affect your overall serotonin levels longer than just after your exercise session, which can increase your overall feelings of well-being.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Exercise also helps to increase neurotrophic factor in the brain, a neurotransmitter that targets the hippocampus. This neurotransmitter is associated with improving your memory and also improving your overall health of your brain. In depressed individuals, this neurotransmitter tends to be low. By promoting the production of neurotrophic factor, you may experience increased alertness or happiness after exercise. This does not mean you should exercise longer to release more brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Your brain will only produce a certain amount during an exercise session.
Considerations
Exercise can help to increase production of feel-good neurotransmitters -- and a lack of exercise is associated with reduced levels, according to BBC News. Dr. Caroline Dalton, a researcher at England's Sheffield Hallam University, has linked lack of exercise with increased food cravings. If you tend to emotionally eat, exercise can help to give you the feel-good emotions food may otherwise give you.
References
- Science Daily; 'Good' Chemical, Neurons in Brain Elevated Among Exercise Addicts; September 2003
- Psychology Today; Can Exercise Cure Depression?; Dr. Gary Small; September 2010
- "New York Times"; Yes, Running Can Make You High; Gina Kolata; March 2008
- "Impulse"; Endorphins, Exercise, and Addictions: A Review of Exercise Dependence; Andrea Leuenberger; 2006
- BBC News; Happy People Could Be Thinner; May 2007
- "The News-Press"; Stave Off Stress With Proper Eating Plan; Angie Ferguson; April 2011
