Effects of physical exercise and stress on hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation in adolescent and adult Wistar rats.

It is commonly recognized that physical exercise positively affects several CNS regions and improves cognitive abilities. For example, exercise is associated with an increase in neurogenesis and facilitation of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Conversely, animal models for depression are associated with a decrease in neurogenesis and a reduction of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus.