Comparison of Different Exercise Modalities on Neuronal Plasticity and Spatial Memory.
Ben-Zeev T, Levi C, Ratamess NA, van Praag H, Hoffman JR. · Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 2026
Purpose: The relationship between exercise and brain function has been studied extensively; however, whether different exercise modalities promote hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function through shared or distinct biological pathways remains unclear. This study examined the effects of endurance training (ET), resistance training (RT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on hippocampal neurogenesis, spatial memory, and neurotrophic factors.
Methods: Forty 3-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomized to control (SED), ET, RT, or HIIT groups. Following the training intervention, adult hippocampal neurogenesis was assessed in the dentate gyrus using BrdU⁺/NeuN⁺ immunolabeling. Hippocampal measures of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and fibronectin type III domain-containing protein (FNDC5), were quantified. Spatial memory was evaluated using the Barnes maze.
Results: All exercise modalities increased the number of BrdU⁺/NeuN⁺ cells compared with sedentary controls (RT, p
Conclusions: Although all exercise modalities increased hippocampal neurogenesis, only those associated with elevations in neurotrophic factors demonstrated improvements in spatial learning. These
Findings: suggest that different exercise modalities may promote hippocampal plasticity through distinct biological profiles and that increases in neurogenesis alone may not be sufficient to enhance cognitive function.