Exercise impacts neural structures controlling heart function

Research published in Autonomic Neuroscience indicates that regular aerobic exercise can restructure the neural clusters that control heart activity. A study involving researchers from the University of Bristol, University College London, the University of São Paulo, and the Federal University of São Paulo examined how physical activity affects the autonomic nervous system.

Using three-dimensional stereological analysis, scientists observed that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise over a 10-week period in mice led to significant changes in the stellate ganglia, which are located in the lower neck and upper chest. These ganglia transmit sympathetic signals to the heart to regulate heart rate and electrical activity.

In the experimental group, the right stellate ganglion contained approximately four times more heart-related neurons than the left, a notable departure from the distribution seen in the control group. These structural changes in the nerves controlling the heart may offer new pathways for cardiovascular treatments.