How Exercise Shapes Your Nerve Signals

People who work out regularly, whether lifting weights or running marathons, have muscles that respond differently to signals from the brain. These signals come from nerve cells called motoneurons. Scientists wanted to see how these nerve cells change with different types of exercise. They studied three groups of people: those who lift weights, those who do endurance exercises like running, and those who don't exercise much. Each group had 23 people. The scientists looked at how these nerve cells fire signals when people push their toes upward with different amounts of force.The scientists found that people who exercise have nerve cells that fire faster when they use more force. This happens because the nerve cells receive more exciting signals and fewer inhibiting signals. The exciting signals make the muscles contract stronger. The inhibiting signals do the opposite. Interestingly, the scientists also found that people who lift weights have nerve cells that respond more quickly to signals at lower forces compared to those who do endurance exercises. This might mean that weightlifters have a better ability to activate their muscles quickly. Overall, exercise seems to make the communication between the brain and muscles more efficient. This could be why people who exercise can produce more force with their muscles.