Aerobic exercise has emerged as a potent intervention for enhancing cognitive function, emotional well-being, and sleep quality in diverse populations, ranging from healthy individuals to those with clinical conditions. While decades of research have established the behavioral advantages of aerobic exercise, the neurobiological mechanisms guiding these benefits are still being uncovered. Novel neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques have begun to elucidate pathways by which aerobic activity may foster neural plasticity, modify brain network dynamics, and optimize neural circuitry in regions such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and limbic system. A greater understanding of the central mechanisms orchestrating the multifaceted outcomes of aerobic exercise remains a vital and dynamic focus within neuroscience research.
Despite strong evidence that aerobic exercise enhances cognition, mood, and sleep quality, the precise neural mechanisms driving these benefits are not fully understood. This Research Topic aims to address this gap by gathering studies that investigate how aerobic exercise produces structural and functional changes within key brain regions and networks - such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, limbic circuitry, and thalamocortical pathways - that support improvements in cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related outcomes. We are particularly interested in work utilizing advanced neuroimaging, electrophysiology, or computational modeling to characterize neural plasticity and connectivity changes in response to different exercise protocols, across a wide range of populations and interventions. By integrating physiological, behavioral, and neural perspectives, this collection seeks to advance mechanistic understanding and inform future targeted interventions for promoting brain health through aerobic activity.
We welcome all studies that explore how aerobic exercise affects the brain to improve cognition, sleep, and emotion. Submissions may address topics such as neuroplastic changes, brain network connectivity (e.g., default mode, prefrontal-limbic, thalamocortical), neural correlates of sleep and emotional regulation, and the influence of exercise dose or individual variability. Studies using neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and computational approaches are encouraged, as are those involving diverse age groups or clinical populations. Authors should clearly detail participant characteristics, exercise protocols, measurement methods, and outcomes to support transparency and comparison across studies. Interdisciplinary work connecting neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral medicine are also welcomed.
Keywords: aerobic exercise, brain plasticity, cognitive function, sleep quality, emotional regulation, neuroimaging, functional connectivity, default mode network, frontal lobe, fNIRs, fMRI, exercise neuroscience
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
