On Florida International University Week: What if your brain could learn to like exercise?
Marcelo Bigliassi, assistant professor of psychophysiology, determines if we can achieve this.
Dr. Marcelo Bigliassi is an Assistant Professor of Psychophysiology and Neuroscience at Florida International University, FL (FIU). He is also the Chief Scientist at NeuroSmart, CA. With over 70 published scientific articles, he utilizes advanced methods such as EEG, fMRI, fNIRS, GSR, EMG, and HRV to investigate the brain and body mechanisms that underlie performance, resilience, and health. Dr. Bigliassi leads the graduate program in kinesiology at FIU and serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise. His research connects neuroscience, technology, and applied health solutions, creating a global impact.
Yes, You Can Train Your Brain to Like Exercise
When people think about exercise, they usually focus on the body: stronger muscles, a healthier heart, and a longer life. However, many of us quit before those benefits materialize. It’s not that our bodies give out. Our brains just convince us that the effort is too much.
My research looks at how the brain shapes our experience of exertion — and how we can retrain it.
To study this, we conducted two tolerance experiments. In the first, participants completed a cold-pressor test. They dunked their hands in ice water for as long as they could stand – up to three minutes.
Across the board, people who reported having a high tolerance for exercise endured the discomfort for almost a minute longer than those who reported having a low tolerance for exercise. The low-tolerant group, however, reported feeling more confident after the test was over.
That led to our next experiment. We asked a group of participants who were minimally active or didn’t exercise at all to endure the same cold-pressor test, then perform a cycling trial at high intensity.
Many reported the effort felt less painful – and in some cases, even enjoyable. That brief dose of stress shifted their perception of effort.
The takeaway isn’t to start taking ice baths. It’s to match the challenge to your current capacity. If walking is hard today, aim for a shorter distance and build from there.
Small, deliberate challenges teach the brain that discomfort isn’t a threat. Over time, the threshold moves. Workouts feel less punishing, more sustainable, and, eventually, something you can look forward to.
Read More:
[Wiley Online Library] – Pre-Stress Exposure and Psychophysiological Responses During Cycling
[FIU News] – Yes, you can train your brain to like exercise
[The Physiological Society] – Improving brain health via the central executive network
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