Since 1990, there have been over nine controlled, experimental studies examining the effect of acute and chronic exercise on biochemical and structural changes in the brain. Some of these studies have examined the structural changes in the brain and related them to maze learning in rats. The purpose of this presentation is to review this research evidence and discuss the implications stemming from these findings for learning and cognitive functioning in humans. Recent studies (Carro et al., 2000; Neeper et al., 1995, 1996; Oliff et al., 1998; Trejo et al., 2001) have shown that rats undergoing either forced or voluntary running on either a treadmill or running wheel show elevation above that of sedentary control rats in levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin growth factor 1 and nerve growth factor. Other researchers (Black et al., 1990; Isaacs et al., 1992; van Praag et al., 1999a & b) have demonstrated that exercise of the above-mentioned type also results in more angiogenesis (capillaries), synaptogenesis (synapses), and synaptic plasticity compared with sedentary (control) rats. In two of these studies the structural changes in the brain were further examined in relation to the ability of rats to negotiate a maze. Both studies (Black et al., 1990; van Praag et al., 1999a) showed that exercised rats not only had beneficial structural changes in their brains, but they also had better maze learning as a result of exercise. The results of this research provide a neurological basis for exercise having an influence on cognitive functioning.