Marcelo Bigliassi, Danylo F Cabral, Amanda C Evans
{"title":"Improving brain health via the central executive network.","authors":"Marcelo Bigliassi, Danylo F Cabral, Amanda C Evans","doi":"10.1113/JP287099","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cognitive and physical stress have significant effects on brain health, particularly through their influence on the central executive network (CEN). The CEN, which includes regions such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and inferior parietal lobe, is central to managing the demands of cognitively challenging motor tasks. Acute stress can temporarily reduce connectivity within the CEN, leading to impaired cognitive function and emotional states. However a rebound in these states often follows, driven by motivational signals through the mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways, which help sustain inhibitory control and task execution. Chronic exposure to physical and cognitive challenges leads to long-term improvements in CEN functionality. These changes are supported by neurochemical, structural and systemic adaptations, including mechanisms of tissue crosstalk. Myokines, adipokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and gut-derived metabolites contribute to a biochemical environment that enhances neuroplasticity, reduces neuroinflammation and supports neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. These processes strengthen CEN connectivity, improve self-regulation and enable individuals to adopt and sustain health-optimizing behaviours. Long-term physical activity not only enhances inhibitory control but also reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the role of progressive physical stress through exercise as a practical approach to strengthening the CEN and promoting brain health, offering a strategy to improve cognitive resilience and emotional well-being across the lifespan.</p>","PeriodicalId":50088,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Physiology-London","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Physiology-London","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1113/JP287099","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NEUROSCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cognitive and physical stress have significant effects on brain health, particularly through their influence on the central executive network (CEN). The CEN, which includes regions such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and inferior parietal lobe, is central to managing the demands of cognitively challenging motor tasks. Acute stress can temporarily reduce connectivity within the CEN, leading to impaired cognitive function and emotional states. However a rebound in these states often follows, driven by motivational signals through the mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways, which help sustain inhibitory control and task execution. Chronic exposure to physical and cognitive challenges leads to long-term improvements in CEN functionality. These changes are supported by neurochemical, structural and systemic adaptations, including mechanisms of tissue crosstalk. Myokines, adipokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and gut-derived metabolites contribute to a biochemical environment that enhances neuroplasticity, reduces neuroinflammation and supports neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. These processes strengthen CEN connectivity, improve self-regulation and enable individuals to adopt and sustain health-optimizing behaviours. Long-term physical activity not only enhances inhibitory control but also reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the role of progressive physical stress through exercise as a practical approach to strengthening the CEN and promoting brain health, offering a strategy to improve cognitive resilience and emotional well-being across the lifespan.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Physiology publishes full-length original Research Papers and Techniques for Physiology, which are short papers aimed at disseminating new techniques for physiological research. Articles solicited by the Editorial Board include Perspectives, Symposium Reports and Topical Reviews, which highlight areas of special physiological interest. CrossTalk articles are short editorial-style invited articles framing a debate between experts in the field on controversial topics. Letters to the Editor and Journal Club articles are also published. All categories of papers are subjected to peer reivew.
The Journal of Physiology welcomes submitted research papers in all areas of physiology. Authors should present original work that illustrates new physiological principles or mechanisms. Papers on work at the molecular level, at the level of the cell membrane, single cells, tissues or organs and on systems physiology are all acceptable. Theoretical papers and papers that use computational models to further our understanding of physiological processes will be considered if based on experimentally derived data and if the hypothesis advanced is directly amenable to experimental testing. While emphasis is on human and mammalian physiology, work on lower vertebrate or invertebrate preparations may be suitable if it furthers the understanding of the functioning of other organisms including mammals.