INTRODUCTION: RECENT STUDIES INDICATED THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN IMPROVE LEARNING AND MEMORY AND HIPPOCAMPAL SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS AND HUMANS. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ALSO ABLE TO IMPROVE COGNITIVE DEFICITS THAT INDUCED BY AGING, CHRONIC USE OF MORPHINE, ISCHEMIA, ETC. ALTHOUGH THE BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS THAT UNDERLIE SUCH BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ARE STILL TO BE COMPLETELY ELUCIDATED, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBLE MECHANISMS MEDIATING THESE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS INCLUDING THE ENHANCEMENT OF NEUROGENESIS, SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY AND BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR LEVELS IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS, ACTIVATION OF NORADRENERGIC AND SEROTONERGIC SYSTEMS AND INCREASED NEURONAL UPTAKE OF CIRCULATING INSULIN LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I.METHODS: IN THIS ARTICLE, WE FOCUS ON OUR RECENT FINDINGS IN THE EFFECTS OF BOTH VOLUNTARY AND FORCED EXERCISE ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY.RESULTS: WE HAVE FOUND THAT BOTH EXERCISES CAN IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL IN PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PATHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.CONCLUSION: EXERCISE COULD BE A POTENTIAL INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN HEALTH AND DISEASES.