How exercise affects the brain: Age and genetics play a role – Exercise clears the mind. It gets the blood pumping and more oxygen is delivered to the brain. This is familiar territory, but Dartmouth's David Bucci thinks there is much more going on."In the last several years there have been data suggesting that neurobiological changes are happening — [there are] very brain-specific mechanisms at work here," says Bucci, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Tags: health