Does positive cognition after lifting come from hormones or CNS?

July 15, 2022 5:30 AM

Getting back into doing simple strength training, I noticed a striking improvement in alertness, focus and mood directly after lifting. I read from a Russian strength guru that Russian sports science considered lifting heavy weights to be a "tonic" for the nervous system. In (maybe) contrast, people usually ascribe "runner's high" to hormones (which I understand are closely tied to CNS). Does anyone really understand this complex aspect of our biology?

(I get that there's probably not a lot of money to be made for someone to study it, but it is disappointing how seemingly primitive the science is around "fight or flight" systems and hormonal balance. And I'm making a (maybe incorrect) distinction between hormonal effects versus "direct" nervous system effects.

posted by Jon44 to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

No direct answers, but some relevant information here and here.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:16 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

If you've been lifting and gaining some muscle mass, you are also increasing your testosterone levels, even if acutely/temporarily. Testosterone works to increase mental alertness and focus. As for mood, I am not totally sure- maybe that is more from dopamine. Abstract.
Also, hormones and the CNS have interplay- one affects the other, and there can be epigenetic alterations as well.
posted by erattacorrige at 7:23 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

The Atlantic: Why One Neuroscientist Started Blasting His Core - A new anatomical understanding of how movement controls the body’s stress response system ( cw: lab animals, etc.)
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:36 AM on July 15, 2022 [4 favorites]

I think you might benefit from searching for the phrase 'heavy work' in relation to spd diagnosis.
posted by aetg at 7:16 PM on July 15, 2022