https://newatlas.com/medical/chemical-connection-physical-activity-brain/
Not really ground-breaking news, but it shows a clear connection between muscle use and brain cell alteration, particularly astrocytes. This could be a mechanism behind physically-induced PEM. Maybe exercise causes astrocytes to change their physical form (longer or shorter processes, more/fewer mitochondria, whatever) which in turn alters neural function, making cognition worse, increasing response to pain, interfering with signals sent to the gut, etc. Cognitive exertion would likely involve astrocytes the same way.
Not really ground-breaking news, but it shows a clear connection between muscle use and brain cell alteration, particularly astrocytes. This could be a mechanism behind physically-induced PEM. Maybe exercise causes astrocytes to change their physical form (longer or shorter processes, more/fewer mitochondria, whatever) which in turn alters neural function, making cognition worse, increasing response to pain, interfering with signals sent to the gut, etc. Cognitive exertion would likely involve astrocytes the same way.