Abstract: Recent study demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) could have benefits to improve the learning memory.Exercise can increase IGF-1 level in hippocampus.IGF-1 may mediate exercise inducing learning memory;one of the possible mechanism is that the IGF-1 and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) has a common regulatory capacity over calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(CAMKⅡ),mitogen-activated protein kinase Ⅱ(MAPKⅡ) and synapsin-1,and the convergence of multiple signaling pathways mediate synaptic plasticity and improve learning memory.

Key words: exercise, insulin-like growth factor-1, learning memory, hippocampus, review