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Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Mood and Human Opioidergic Activation Measured by Positron Emission Tomography

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Functional Neuroimaging in Exercise and Sport Sciences

Abstract

According to the often-cited “endorphin hypothesis”, endogenous opioidergic transmitter release has been postulated as the neurochemical basis of some of the psychophysical effects associated with endurance exercise, in particular mood changes. This chapter provides an overview on the applicability of positron emission tomography (PET) ligand activation studies with opioidergic tracers for imaging endogenous opioidergic transmission associated with exercise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105, Bonn, Germany

    Henning Boecker

  2. Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Thomas R. Tölle

  3. Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Michael Valet

  4. Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Till Sprenger

Authors
  1. Henning Boecker
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  2. Thomas R. Tölle
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  3. Michael Valet
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  4. Till Sprenger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henning Boecker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. FE Klinische Funktionelle Neurobildgebun, Experimentelle Radiologie, Radiologische Universitätsklinik Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, Bonn, 53105, Germany

    Henning Boecker

  2. , Department of Kinesiology and Community, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champai, S. Goodwin Ave. 906, Urbana, 61801, USA

    Charles H. Hillman

  3. FE Klinische Funktionelle Neurobildgebun, Experimentelle Radiologie, Radiologische Universitätsklinik, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, Bonn, 53105, Germany

    Lukas Scheef

  4. Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln, Institut für Bewegungs- und Neurowissens, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, Köln, 50933, Germany

    Heiko K. Strüder

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Boecker, H., Tölle, T.R., Valet, M., Sprenger, T. (2012). Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Mood and Human Opioidergic Activation Measured by Positron Emission Tomography. In: Boecker, H., Hillman, C., Scheef, L., Strüder, H. (eds) Functional Neuroimaging in Exercise and Sport Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3293-7_22

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