Rosso Carlotta, Brustio Paolo Riccardo, Manuello Jordi, Rainoldi Alberto
School of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.
Sports (Basel). 2025 Aug 21;13(8):280. doi: 10.3390/sports13080280.
(1) Background: Recent decades have seen growing interest in neuroplasticity and the activity-dependent mechanisms that allow Brain Networks to adapt functionally. Among the various stimuli, physical exercise has emerged as a key modulator of brain plasticity. This narrative review aims to synthesize evidence on the structural and functional effects of physical exercise on the brain in healthy individuals aged 18-80 years. Exercise modalities were categorized into Cardiovascular, Strength, and Mixed Training. Each was further classified by intensity (Light-to-Moderate vs. Vigorous) and duration (Short- vs. Long-Term). A total of 25 interventions were analyzed to evaluate how these variables influence Brain Networks. Findings indicate that exercise type, intensity, and duration collectively modulate neuroplastic responses. Notably, physical training induces structural and functional changes in major Brain Networks, including the Default Mode Network, Salience Network, Central Executive Network, Visuospatial Network, Sensorimotor Network, and Language and Auditory Networks. These results underscore the potential of physical exercise as an effective non-pharmacological strategy to enhance brain health and plasticity across the adult lifespan. This narrative review aims to highlight the effects of physical exercise in changing the brain either functionally or structurally. Moreover, the most relevant exercise training modalities that may improve/change neural networks in healthy populations (18-80 years) were discussed. (2) Methods: Three different types of exercise were considered: (i) Cardiovascular, (ii) Strength, and (iii) Mixed Exercise. For each of them, two levels of intensity (Light-to-Moderate and Vigorous) and two durations (Short-Term and Long-Term Effects) were included. By analyzing 25 interventions, indications about the effects on the brain considering the three factors (type of exercises, intensities, and durations) were provided. (3) Results: The findings suggest that the type of exercises, intensities, and durations could to lead neural modification over time. Specifically, exercise intervention contributes to both structural and functional changes in brain regions located in key Brain Networks, including the Default Mode Network, Salience Network, Central Executive Network, Visuospatial Network, Sensorimotor Network, and Language and Auditory Networks. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, the evidence presented herein underscores the beneficial effects of physical exercise on the structural and functional integrity of the brain, highlighting its importance as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve brain plasticity.
（1）背景：近几十年来，人们对神经可塑性以及使脑网络在功能上实现适应性的活动依赖机制的兴趣与日俱增。在各种刺激因素中，体育锻炼已成为脑可塑性的关键调节因素。本叙述性综述旨在综合关于体育锻炼对18至80岁健康个体大脑的结构和功能影响的证据。运动方式分为心血管运动、力量训练和混合训练。每种运动方式又根据强度（轻度至中度与剧烈）和持续时间（短期与长期）进一步分类。共分析了25项干预措施，以评估这些变量如何影响脑网络。研究结果表明，运动类型、强度和持续时间共同调节神经可塑性反应。值得注意的是，体育锻炼会在主要脑网络中引起结构和功能变化，包括默认模式网络、突显网络、中央执行网络、视觉空间网络、感觉运动网络以及语言和听觉网络。这些结果强调了体育锻炼作为一种有效的非药物策略在促进整个成年期脑健康和可塑性方面的潜力。本叙述性综述旨在强调体育锻炼在功能或结构上改变大脑的作用。此外还讨论了在健康人群（18至80岁）中可能改善/改变神经网络的最相关运动训练方式。（2）方法：考虑了三种不同类型的运动：（i）心血管运动，（ii）力量训练，（iii）混合运动。对于每种运动，纳入了两个强度水平（轻度至中度和剧烈）和两个持续时间（短期和长期影响）。通过分析25项干预措施，提供了关于这三个因素（运动类型、强度和持续时间）对大脑影响的指征。（3）结果：研究结果表明，运动类型、强度和持续时间可能会随着时间推移导致神经改变。具体而言，运动干预有助于位于关键脑网络中的脑区发生结构和功能变化，包括默认模式网络、突显网络、中央执行网络、视觉空间网络、感觉运动网络以及语言和听觉网络。（4）结论：总之，本文所呈现的证据强调了体育锻炼对大脑结构和功能完整性的有益影响，突显了其作为改善脑可塑性的非药物干预措施的重要性。
