Exercise boosts neurogenesis—fading fear-based memories and reducing PTSD-related behaviors, a mouse study finds. Digest
In people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic experiences can resurface as vivid flashbacks and intense avoidance, often lasting months or even years. While therapy and medications can help, many people don’t respond fully. A recent study in mice found that exercise enhances the brain’s natural ability to forget, reducing trauma-related behaviors.
Researchers used a mouse model of PTSD to test whether increasing neurogenesis—the process of forming new neurons—could weaken fear-based memories. They focused on the hippocampus, a brain region that links memories to specific places and contexts. They used several strategies to stimulate neurogenesis, including voluntary exercise, targeted genetic techniques, and drug-based interventions designed to promote the growth and integration of new neurons.
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They found that when the animals' neurogenesis increased, their fear-based memories faded more quickly, and PTSD-related behaviors, such as heightened anxiety and exaggerated fear responses, became less severe. Exercise proved especially effective, not only reducing fear but also easing anxiety-like behaviors. The same neurogenesis-boosting strategies also weakened reward-based memories associated with drug exposure, suggesting this approach could help in treating addiction.
These findings indicate that enhancing the brain’s natural ability to reorganize itself—particularly through interventions like exercise—helps weaken persistent, harmful memories, offering a promising new approach to treating PTSD and substance use disorders by focusing on memory mechanisms rather than just symptoms. Evidence suggests psychedelic drugs may be beneficial in treating PTSD, too. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Roland Griffiths.