Newcastle University researchers have published a study in the Journal of Neuroscience that shows that muscle training also strengthens the nervous system. The experiment involved a group of Rhesus monkeys that were taught to train their arms with a dumbbell. During the three-month trial period, Isabel Glover and Stuart Baker measured daily whether there was a change in the transmission of nerve signals from the motor cortex of the brain through the spinal cord to the animals’ muscles. The results showed that the monkeys had little muscle growth in the first few weeks of training, but there was a significant increase in the transmission of extrapyramidal signals through the nervous system and increased activity in the motor cortex of the brain.
It has long been established that regular exercise is beneficial for maintaining human health and preventing obesity and cardiovascular disease. Exercise has also been shown to be more effective than conventional medication for some diseases, according to a study by the Harvard Medical School. In addition, the brain benefits from movement because it is better oxygenated and produces a neurotransmitter that enhances the formation of nerve cells. The Newcastle University study shows that muscle training also strengthens the nervous system, which is an additional benefit of exercise.
The study’s findings suggest that the increased strength gained from exercise is not solely due to muscle growth, but also to the stronger extrapyramidal signals of the nervous system. The researchers observed that the already existing muscles were more heavily utilized due to the stronger neural signals. The combination of these effects leads to the strength gained during training. The study’s results provide further evidence of the benefits of exercise and the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.
