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Abstract

Beyond its benefits for cardiovascular and musculoskeletal function, endurance exercise may also increase the information-processing capacities and plasticity of the brain. Here we summarize animal and human studies from the past decade demonstrating widespread exercise effects on brain structure and function at the systems, cellular, and molecular level of brain organization. These neurobiological mechanisms may explain the well-established positive exercise effects on performance in various behavioral domains but also its contribution to improved skill learning and neuroplasticity. With respect to the latter, only few empirical and theoretical studies are available to date. Therefore, the further aim of this chapter is to develop hypotheses about the mechanistic link between exercise and improved learning. We identify major knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to advance our understanding of how exercise should be organized to optimize motor learning.