This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg The Neuroscience of Your Workout
Nov 14, 2025
Dr. Gary Wenk, a neuroscientist and author of 'Your Brain on Exercise', explores the fascinating connection between exercise and brain health. He explains that our brains motivate us to move due to survival instincts, revealing how movement affects aging and inflammation. Wenk discusses the runner's high and warns against intense exercise's potential harm. He emphasizes the social aspects of exercise, debunks myths about fitness and depression, and advocates for moderation in activity for optimal brain function.
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Movement Is Rooted In Survival And Reproduction
- The brain evolved to motivate movement for survival and procreation through foraging and mating.
- Movement signals are deeply tied to fundamental brain functions and aging processes.
Muscles Signal The Brain With Chemicals
- Muscles act like endocrine glands, releasing chemicals that communicate with the brain.
- These signals (endorphins, endocannabinoids) reduce pain and inflammation after intense exercise.
Runner’s High Is An Endocannabinoid Effect
- Runner's high stems more from endocannabinoids than peripheral endorphins crossing the blood-brain barrier.
- The body releases these compounds to reduce pain and inflammation after tissue damage.
