当期文章

运动改善认知功能的神经生理学机制

刘建秀¹, 吴柏乐², 王帝之¹, 李省天¹, 尤彦¹, 闵雷子¹, 马新东^1,3,*

¹清华大学体育部，北京 100084；²北京体育大学运动人体科学学院，北京 100084；³清华-IDG/麦戈文脑科学研究院，北京 100084

摘要

运动对认知功能改善的神经生理学机制尚未完全阐明。本文从分子、细胞、脑结构和功能连接三个层面，对当前国内外关于运动改善认知功能的神经生理学证据进行了多层次的全面系统梳理。在分子层面，运动通过多种神经营养因子、受体活性、神经肽和单胺类神经递质的调节，降低炎症因子及其他神经可塑性调控因子的水平，促进神经细胞的再生和突触发生，维持细胞发育和稳态。在细胞层面，运动通过神经再生、突触发生、胶质细胞功能改善和血管生成等途径，增强神经激活和控制，改善大脑结构。在脑结构层面，运动通过影响白质和灰质体积、神经激活和脑区连接，以及提高脑血流，促进认知功能的提升。本综述系统性地阐述了运动如何从分子水平改善内环境，促进细胞再生与功能性分化，以及提高脑结构和神经效率，从多层次、多维度全面揭示运动促进认知功能的神经生理学机制。

关键词： 运动; 认知功能; 神经生理学; 机制; 神经可塑性

The neurophysiological mechanisms of exercise-induced improvements in cognitive function

LIU Jian-Xiu¹, WU Bai-Le², WANG Di-Zhi¹, LI Xing-Tian¹, YOU Yan-Wei¹, MIN Lei-Zi¹, MA Xin-Dong^1,3,*

¹Department of Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China；²Department of Kinesiology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China；³IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Abstract

The neurophysiological mechanisms by which exercise improves cognitive function have not been fully elucidated. A comprehensive and systematic review of current domestic and international neurophysiological evidence on exercise improving cognitive function was conducted from multiple perspectives. At the molecular level, exercise promotes nerve cell regeneration and synaptogenesis and maintains cellular development and homeostasis through the modulation of a variety of neurotrophic factors, receptor activity, neuropeptides, and monoamine neurotransmitters, and by decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors and other modulators of neuroplasticity. At the cellular level, exercise enhances neural activation and control and improves brain structure through nerve regeneration, synaptogenesis, improved glial cell function and angiogenesis. At the structural level of the brain, exercise promotes cognitive function by affecting white and gray matter volumes, neural activation and brain region connectivity, as well as increasing cerebral blood flow. This review elucidates how exercise improves the internal environment at the molecular level, promotes cell regeneration and functional differentiation, and enhances the brain structure and neural efficiency. It provides a comprehensive, multidimensional explanation of the neurophysiological mechanisms through which exercise promotes cognitive function.

Key words: Exercise; cognitive function; neurophysiology; mechanism; neuroplasticity

收稿日期：　　录用日期：

通讯作者：马新东　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0047

引用本文：

刘建秀, 吴柏乐, 王帝之, 李省天, 尤彦, 闵雷子, 马新东. 运动改善认知功能的神经生理学机制[J]. 生理学报 2025; 77 (3): 504-522.

LIU Jian-Xiu, WU Bai-Le, WANG Di-Zhi, LI Xing-Tian, YOU Yan-Wei, MIN Lei-Zi, MA Xin-Dong. The neurophysiological mechanisms of exercise-induced improvements in cognitive function. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (3): 504-522 (in Chinese with English abstract).