%A Thomas,Adam %A Dennis,Andrea %A Bandettini,Peter %A Johansen-Berg,Heidi %D 2012 %J Frontiers in Psychology %C %F %G English %K Ageing,Angiogenesis,environmental enrichment,Exercise,Hippocampus,Learning,Neurogenesis,plasticity %Q %R 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00086 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2012-March-23 %9 Review %+ Mr Adam Thomas,University of Oxford,Clinical Neurology,John Radcliffe Hospital,Oxford,OX3 9DU,Oxfordshire,United Kingdom,adamt@nih.gov %+ Mr Adam Thomas,NIH, DHHS,NIMH,10 Center Dr,Bethesda,20892-1148,MD,United States,adamt@nih.gov %# %! The effects of physical activity on brain structure %* %< %T The Effects of Aerobic Activity on Brain Structure %U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00086 %V 3 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1664-1078 %X Aerobic activity is a powerful stimulus for improving mental health and for generating structural changes in the brain. We review the literature documenting these structural changes and explore exactly where in the brain these changes occur as well as the underlying substrates of the changes including neural, glial, and vasculature components. Aerobic activity has been shown to produce different types of changes in the brain. The presence of novel experiences or learning is an especially important component in how these changes are manifest. We also discuss the distinct time courses of structural brain changes with both aerobic activity and learning as well as how these effects might differ in diseased and elderly groups.