The Endocannabinoid System as a Potential Mechanism through which Exercise Influences Episodic Memory Function

Paul D Loprinzi; Liye Zou; Hong Li

doi:10.3390/brainsci9050112

The Endocannabinoid System as a Potential Mechanism through which Exercise Influences Episodic Memory Function

Brain Sci. 2019 May 16;9(5):112. doi: 10.3390/brainsci9050112.

Authors

Paul D Loprinzi¹, Liye Zou², Hong Li^{3

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Affiliations

¹ Exercise & Memory Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA. pdloprin@olemiss.edu.
² Lifestyle (Mind-Body Movement) Research Center, College of Psychology and Sociology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. liyezou123@gmail.com.
³ Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, College of Psychology and Sociology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. lihongszu@szu.edu.cn.
⁴ Research Centre of Brain Function and Psychological Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. lihongszu@szu.edu.cn.
⁵ Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China. lihongszu@szu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Emerging research demonstrates that exercise, including both acute and chronic exercise, may influence episodic memory function. To date, mechanistic explanations of this effect are often attributed to alterations in long-term potentiation, neurotrophic production, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. Herein, we discuss a complementary mechanistic model, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system may, in part, influence the effects of exercise on memory function. We discuss the role of the endocannabinoid system on memory function as well as the effects of exercise on endocannabinoid alterations. This is an exciting line of inquiry that should help delineate new insights into the mechanistic role of exercise on memory function.

Keywords: BDNF; CB1; CB2; episodic memory; exercise.