Statistically, people who exercise are much less likely than inactive people to abuse drugs or alcohol. But can exercise help curb addictions? Some research shows that exercise may stimulate reward centers in the brain, helping to ease cravings for drugs or other substances. But according to an eye-opening new study of cocaine-addicted mice, dedicated exercise may in some cases make it even harder to break an addiction.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced
Science and Technology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, began by dividing male mice into those that had or did not have running wheels in their cages. All of the mice were injected with a chemical that marks newly created brain cells.
The animals then sat in their cages or ran at will for 30 days.
Afterward, the mice were placed in small multiroom chambers in the lab and introduced to liquid cocaine. They liked it.
Every moment counts; let's capture them.