Physical inactivity is challenging for a lot of individuals, but it can especially be challenging for individuals who struggle with stress and psychological trauma (PTSD). This idea was explored in Dr. Buhr’s talk about his manuscript where he investigated the neurobiology of stress and its impact on physical activity.
In his talk, Dr. Buhr explained his methodologies, results, and implications of his manuscript. He used rodent models where he exposed 3 groups to 0,50, or 100 uncontrollable tail shocks, and after the rodents received tail shocks, they were given access to a running wheel. In his results, Dr. Buhr uncovered a relationship where the amount of shocks were dependent on the amount of time spent on the wheel. In other words, rodents who were not given any tail shocks spent longer on the wheel than rodents who experienced the tail shocks.
In addition to this interesting finding, Dr. Buhr wanted to investigate the underlying neurobiology of stress and physical activity. To do this, he gave rodents tail shocks, and after the tail shocks, he exposed the rodents to a treadmill. Once the rodents were done on the treadmill, he completed a neurochemical survey. This survey revealed that non-stressed rodent runners had a higher dopamine turnover, thus making the experience more rewarding. In contrast, rodents who experienced stress had a lower dopamine turnover, thus making the experience less rewarding.
During Dr. Buhr's talk, a question came to me: even though stressed rodents may not like to exercise, would exercise help alleviate symptoms of PTSD in rodents or humans? To answer this question, SantaBarbra et al. (2025) examined differences in PTSD symptoms in individuals with various exercise levels. Through a cross sectional approach, SantaBarbra and colleges revealed that participants who were more active, reported lower PTSD symptoms. Participants that were less active, however, reported higher PTSD symptoms. In addition, the authors found that individuals who were more active had better sleep, less psychological distress, and less pain than individuals who were less active. This paper specifically implies that activity is not only beneficial for reducing PTSD symptoms, but exercise is beneficial for improving quality of life.
Both Dr. Buhr’s talk and SantaBarbra et al. (2025) manuscript allowed me to understand the relationship between psychological stress (PTSD) and physical activity. Dr. Buhr’s talk provided a foundation on why individuals (in his case rodents) would not want to pursue physical activity if exposed to stress. SantaBarbra et al. (2025), however, shed light into the idea that physical activity is not only important for reducing symptoms of PTSD, but physical activity is important for sleep and reducing physical distress and pain.
Overall, using Dr. Buhr’s talk and SantaBarbra et al. (2025) manuscript, future research can look at neuromechanisms of increasing dopamine turnover in individuals experiencing psychological distress. This in turn, can motivate individuals to increase physical exercise to alleviate PTSD symptoms and improve their quality of life.
References
Buhr, T. J., Reed, C. H., Wee, O. M., Lee, J. H., Yuan, L.-L., Fleshner, M., Valentine, R. J., & Clark, P. J. (2023). The persistence of stress-induced physical inactivity in rats: an investigation of central monoamine neurotransmitters and skeletal muscle oxidative stress. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1169151
SantaBarbara, N. J., Checko, E. R., Pebole, M. M., & Whitworth, J. W. (2025). Cross-sectional exercise-related differences in PTSD symptoms, psychological distress, physical pain, and sleep quality in trauma-exposed adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1445144
In his talk, Dr. Buhr explained his methodologies, results, and implications of his manuscript. He used rodent models where he exposed 3 groups to 0,50, or 100 uncontrollable tail shocks, and after the rodents received tail shocks, they were given access to a running wheel. In his results, Dr. Buhr uncovered a relationship where the amount of shocks were dependent on the amount of time spent on the wheel. In other words, rodents who were not given any tail shocks spent longer on the wheel than rodents who experienced the tail shocks.
In addition to this interesting finding, Dr. Buhr wanted to investigate the underlying neurobiology of stress and physical activity. To do this, he gave rodents tail shocks, and after the tail shocks, he exposed the rodents to a treadmill. Once the rodents were done on the treadmill, he completed a neurochemical survey. This survey revealed that non-stressed rodent runners had a higher dopamine turnover, thus making the experience more rewarding. In contrast, rodents who experienced stress had a lower dopamine turnover, thus making the experience less rewarding.
During Dr. Buhr's talk, a question came to me: even though stressed rodents may not like to exercise, would exercise help alleviate symptoms of PTSD in rodents or humans? To answer this question, SantaBarbra et al. (2025) examined differences in PTSD symptoms in individuals with various exercise levels. Through a cross sectional approach, SantaBarbra and colleges revealed that participants who were more active, reported lower PTSD symptoms. Participants that were less active, however, reported higher PTSD symptoms. In addition, the authors found that individuals who were more active had better sleep, less psychological distress, and less pain than individuals who were less active. This paper specifically implies that activity is not only beneficial for reducing PTSD symptoms, but exercise is beneficial for improving quality of life.
Both Dr. Buhr’s talk and SantaBarbra et al. (2025) manuscript allowed me to understand the relationship between psychological stress (PTSD) and physical activity. Dr. Buhr’s talk provided a foundation on why individuals (in his case rodents) would not want to pursue physical activity if exposed to stress. SantaBarbra et al. (2025), however, shed light into the idea that physical activity is not only important for reducing symptoms of PTSD, but physical activity is important for sleep and reducing physical distress and pain.
Overall, using Dr. Buhr’s talk and SantaBarbra et al. (2025) manuscript, future research can look at neuromechanisms of increasing dopamine turnover in individuals experiencing psychological distress. This in turn, can motivate individuals to increase physical exercise to alleviate PTSD symptoms and improve their quality of life.
References
Buhr, T. J., Reed, C. H., Wee, O. M., Lee, J. H., Yuan, L.-L., Fleshner, M., Valentine, R. J., & Clark, P. J. (2023). The persistence of stress-induced physical inactivity in rats: an investigation of central monoamine neurotransmitters and skeletal muscle oxidative stress. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1169151
SantaBarbara, N. J., Checko, E. R., Pebole, M. M., & Whitworth, J. W. (2025). Cross-sectional exercise-related differences in PTSD symptoms, psychological distress, physical pain, and sleep quality in trauma-exposed adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1445144
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