Sexual activity counteracts the suppressive effects of chronic stress on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and recognition memory

I can just see your doctor telling you you need more sex because that will result in neurogenesis. I am sadly completely lacking in that regard.
I'm sure your doctor will assist you in conjugal visits while still in the hospital.  Its a stress reliever, demand your doctor do something. And that Viagra helping recovery means two birds with one stone.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006899313012420

• Jong-In Kim^a,
• Jae Won Lee^a,
• Young Ah Lee^a,
• Dong-Hun Lee^b,
• Bo Ram Hwang^a,
• Jin Soo Han^{a, ,}

• ^a Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine & Institute for the 3Rs and Avian Disease Laboratory, Veterinary Science Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea
• ^b Avian Disease Laboratory, Veterinary Science Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea

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Highlights

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Sexual activity increased the expression of BDNF, TrkB, and CREB in the hippocampus.

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Sexual activity helped to buffer adult hippocampal cell survival and neuronal differentiation against stress.

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Sexually experienced mice were resistant to the negative effects of chronic stress on recognition memory.

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Abstract

Adult neurogenesis can be influenced by a variety of factors. Stress is one of the most potent inhibitors of hippocampal neurogenesis. Stress effects on adult hippocampal neurogenesis are affected differently by environmental factors, including social interaction. Sexual behavior between males and females in a social context has been suggested to influence neurogenesis and enhance hippocampal cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms of action of sexual interaction, the possible changes relative to stress state, and its effects on learning and memory remain uncertain. The current study examined the influence of sexual interaction on neurological responses in adult male mice and the function of sexual interaction relative to recognition memory in stress states. Changes in the expression of neurotrophic and transcription factors were assessed in reference to stress and/or sexual behaviors. The survival of newly generated cells and their rate of differentiation into neurons were determined in the hippocampus of chronically stressed and/or sexually experienced mice. Finally, to evaluate whether sexual experience alters adult hippocampal function, we tested learning and memory in a recognition memory task. The results demonstrated that sexual activity increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine kinase B, and cAMP response element-binding factor. Furthermore, the results supported the view that sexual interaction could be helpful for buffering adult hippocampal neurogenesis and recognition memory function against the suppressive actions of chronic stress.

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