Comment · Sun, February 2, 2014 · Ceretropic
Pet Theory about Exercise, Dopamine and Motivation
Original post in this thread
[deleted] · 14 points
I've read from several sources that exercise is good for depression, for giving you more energy, focus, etc. Several recent studies support this idea. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be that much of an explanation available as to why this is, other than "exercise is good for you". Now, I'm not a neuroscientist, merely a computer scientist who's interested in the brain. As such, I'll acknowledge that my theories might be approaching the realm of "broscience". I still believe these thoughts are worth sharing.
Dopamine has many roles in the brain, but one of them is linked to motivation and energy. It seems that dopamine is involved in "gating" outputs in the motor cortex. Your brain can simultaneously produce many possible ideas of movements or sequences of movements that you could make, some more likely than others. Higher levels of dopamine lower the threshold required for these movements to be executed. Higher levels of dopamine literally make it so you need less willpower to execute a movement, to get out of bed and work out. If your levels of dopamine are low, you will only execute movement ideas that your brain makes extremely salient. For example, when you're hungry, t…
What they were answering
simen · 2 points
Some people have also suggested that the endocannabinoid system is involved in the "runner's high." The exact nature of the relationship between mood and exercise is hardly as clear-cut as you make it out to be.
It's definitely the case that endogenous "feel-good" chemicals of some sort are released to make you feel good from exercising, but these are rather short-lived. There's still an explanatory gap between "feel-good chemicals with a half-life in the low hours are released upon vigorous exercise" and "exercise has long-term effects on mood that persist long after these chemicals have been broken down and excreted by the body."
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
I have read studies on that theory. And sure, it's more complicated than just endorphins. There is the fact that your metabolism speeds up for a time, or the mental aspects of accomplishment one feels after bettering them self. But the effects we are talking about are not that long-term. If I go a week without working out, I start getting depressed. The actual motivational aspects of an individual workout only last a day or so. Sure, the mental feelings of accomplishment can last longer. However, the physiological effects are pretty short-lived.
Working out was a huge part of coming out of my depression. Without the conscious mental effort to frame your advancements in the proper light, the acute mood and motivational boost is merely a fleeting feeling. The mental aspect is really the key component.