Exercise, Brains, Grades: Uncovering Their Connection
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Adolescent brain development is a critical phase encompassing significant advancements in social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Moreover, this stage signifies a shift from dependency to a certain level of independence (1). This newfound independence regarding lifestyle choices makes adolescence a crucial period to consider, as many detrimental health behaviors that persist into adulthood often originate during this time (1). Concurrently, the brain undergoes transformative changes. Cross-sectional (2-4), longitudinal (5-7), and experimental (8) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies ha...
Adolescent brain development is a critical phase encompassing significant advancements in social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Moreover, this stage signifies a shift from dependency to a certain level of independence (1). This newfound independence regarding lifestyle choices makes adolescence a crucial period to consider, as many detrimental health behaviors that persist into adulthood often originate during this time (1). Concurrently, the brain undergoes transformative changes. Cross-sectional (2-4), longitudinal (5-7), and experimental (8) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have revealed a linear increase in white matter density with age. In contrast, grey matter follows a non-linear inverted U-shaped pattern, reaching its peak density around age 12 and subsequently declining into adulthood (4, 7). These morphological changes in the brain coincide with age-dependent enhancements in neuronal signal transmission speed and efficiency. This is facilitated by improved myelination, the formation of new connections between neurons, and the pruning of unnecessary connections (2, 9, 10). These developmental patterns are particularly pronounced in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a crucial region for decision-making and the assessment of rewards. The PFC has been previously implicated in a range of both detrimental and beneficial health behaviors (6, 7). The subsequent section will delve deeper into the structure and function of the PFC.