PSYCHOLOGICAL “ENERGY” IS VAGUE, MOVEMENT INDUCED ENERGY IS REAL & UNDERSTOOD. HERE IS HOW TO LEVERAGE IT• - The episode of the Huberman Lab podcast that’s out now is all about how exercise improves brain function, health, and longevity. - There are many ways that exercise improves brain function in the short and long-term. One of the major ways is by increasing your levels of alertness and thereby capacity to focus during cognitive/mental tasks. - During the episode, I discuss beautiful data from several laboratories showing there are specific neural circuits that originate from the brain areas controlling large limb movement and core activation that, through a relay station in the spinal cord, trigger the release of adrenaline from your adrenal glands. - The issue is that adrenaline doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier. But, adrenaline does activate receptors on your vagus nerve. Most people think of the vagus nerve as being involved in relaxation, but it actually has a powerful effect of INCREASING arousal and alertness in the brain. - When adrenaline binds to adrenergic receptors on your vagus, it stimulates brainstem areas that in turn release norepinephrine in your brain. The net effect is increased levels of excitation in the brain and more alertness. You experience this as more “energy” in your brain and body. - Voilà! Movement produces energy in your body and brain and back again. It’s a loop. So the next time you are feeling a lack of energy to exercise consider the ways exercise will give you energy. - To access the new episode in all formats go to hubermanlab.com It is time stamped in detail so you can navigate quickly to the topics and protocols (labeled “tool”) most of interest to you. - Meanwhile, if you have any questions about the topics in this episode or suggestions of other guests or topics you’d like me to cover on the Huberman Lab podcast, please put those in the comment section below this post. And as always, thank you for your interest in science! - @hubermanlab @stanford.med @stanford - #neuroscience #science #ciencia #neurociencia #exercise #energy