Exercise is known to strengthen the heart, but scientists have discovered that it may also reshape the nerves that control how the organ functions. A study involving rats found that just 10 weeks of moderate aerobic exercise produced significant structural changes in nerve clusters responsible for regulating heart activity.

Researchers at the University of Bristol and their partners studied structures known as stellate ganglia, located on either side of the lower neck and upper chest. These nerve clusters are part of the autonomic nervous system, which automatically regulates functions such as heart rate.

The results, detailed in a study appearing in Autonomic Neuroscience , suggest that exercise affects the left and right sides of this system differently. The finding may ultimately help scientists better understand how the nervous system adjusts to regular physical activity.

However, there is an important limitation: the experiment was conducted in rats.…