Exercise Boosts Mouse Brain, Builds Endurance

Study finds exercise rewires the brain to improve physical performance

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Researchers have discovered that exercise not only strengthens muscles, but also rewires the brain. In a study published in the journal Neuron, scientists found that exercise increases activity in a specific group of neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) region of the mouse brain. This increased brain activity helps the body recover faster and adapt to more intense workouts, leading to improved endurance over time.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that the benefits of exercise go beyond just physical fitness, and that the brain plays a crucial role in the body's adaptation to exercise. Understanding how exercise impacts the brain could lead to new ways to help older adults, stroke survivors, and athletes recover and improve their physical performance.

The details

The researchers monitored neural activity in mice and found that a specific group of neurons called steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1) neurons in the VMH became more active when the mice ran on a treadmill. This increased activity lasted for at least an hour after the exercise. After two weeks of daily exercise, the mice showed improved endurance, able to run faster and longer before becoming exhausted. The researchers found that blocking the activity of the SF1 neurons prevented the endurance gains, even when the neurons functioned normally during the exercise itself. This suggests the post-exercise activity of the SF1 neurons is crucial for the body's adaptation to exercise.

  • The study was published on February 12, 2026 in the journal Neuron.
  • The researchers conducted their experiments over a two-week period, monitoring the mice's brain activity and endurance before and after daily exercise sessions.

The players

J. Nicholas Betley

The corresponding author of the study and a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.

Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1) neurons

A specific group of neurons located in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) region of the mouse brain that became more active after exercise.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of people say they feel sharper and their minds are clearer after exercise. So we wanted to understand what happens in the brain after exercise and how those changes influence the effects of exercise.”

— J. Nicholas Betley, Researcher, University of Pennsylvania (Neuron)

“When we lift weights, we think we are just building muscle. It turns out we might be building up our brain when we exercise.”

— J. Nicholas Betley, Researcher, University of Pennsylvania (Neuron)

What’s next

The researchers hope to further investigate the mechanisms by which the increased activity of SF1 neurons in the VMH region of the brain contributes to improved physical endurance and recovery from exercise. This could lead to new ways to help older adults, stroke survivors, and athletes enhance their physical performance.

The takeaway

This study demonstrates that the benefits of exercise go beyond just physical fitness, and that the brain plays a crucial role in the body's adaptation to exercise. By understanding how exercise impacts the brain, researchers may be able to develop new interventions to help people of all ages and abilities improve their endurance and recovery from physical activity.