The findings suggest that non-invasive brain stimulation over the TC modulates the ANS activity and the sensory perception of effort and exercise performance, indicating that the brain plays a crucial role in the exercise performance regulation.

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To investigate whether the manipulation of brain excitability by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates the heart rate variability (HRV), the effect of tDCS applied at rest on the left temporal lobe in athletes (AG) and non-athletes (NAG) was evaluated. The HRV parameters (natural logarithms of LF, HF, and LF/HF) was assessed in 20 healthy men before, and immediately after tDCS and sham stimulation. After anodal tDCS in AG the parasympathetic activity (HF(log)) increased (P<0.01) and the sympathetic activity (LF(log)) and sympatho-vagal balance (LF/HF(log)) decreased (P<0.01), whereas no significant effects were detected in NAG (P>0.05). No significant changes in HRV indexes were provoked by sham stimulation in both AG and NAG (P>0.05). In conclusion, tDCS applied on the left temporal lobe significantly increased the overall HRV in AG, enhancing the parasympathetic and decreasing the sympathetic modulation of heart rate. Consequently the sympatho-vagal balance decreased at rest in AG but not in NAG. Releasing a weak electric current to stimulate selected brain areas may induce favorable effects on the autonomic control to the heart in highly fit subjects.

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The influence of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) upon maximal strength performance in exercises recruiting large muscle mass has not been established in healthy populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anodal tDCS was able to increase the performance during maximal strength exercise (MSEX) in healthy subjects. Fourteen volunteers (age: 26 ± 4 yrs) performed two MSEX after anodal or sham tDCS (2mA; 20min prior MSEX), involving knee extensors and flexors in concentric isokinetic muscle actions of the dominant limb (3 sets of 10 repetitions). The electrical muscle activity (sEMG) of four recruited muscles was recorded during MSEX. Anodal tDCS was not able to improve force production (i.e., total work and peak torque), fatigue resistance, or electromyographic activity during MSEX when compared to sham condition. In conclusion, anodal tDCS applied upon the contralateral motor cortex was not capable of increasing the strength performance of knee extensors and flexors in young healthy subjects.Resumo-"ETCC sobre o córtex motor não aumenta o desempenho de força em sujeitos saudáveis." A influência da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) sobre o desempenho da força muscular em exercícios que recrutam grandes massas musculares ainda não foi estabelecido em populações saudáveis. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar se a ETCC anódica seria capaz de aumentar o desempenho durante exercício máximo de força (EMF) em sujeitos saudáveis. Catorze voluntários (idade: 26 ± 4 anos) executaram dois EMF com aplicação prévia da ETCC anódica ou placebo (2mA; 20 mim), envolvendo músculos flexores e extensores do joelho dominante em ação concêntrica isocinética (3 séries de 10 repetições). A atividade elétrica muscular (sEMG) de quatro músculos recrutados foi registrada durante o EMF. A ETCC anódica não foi capaz de melhorar a produção de força (trabalho total e pico de torque), resistência à fadiga ou atividade eletromiográfica durante o EMF, quando comparada à condição placebo. Em conclusão, a ETCC anódica aplicada sobre o córtex motor contralateral não foi capaz de aumentar o desempenho de força de flexores e extensores de joelho em jovens saudáveis. Palavras-chave: neurociência, ETCC, neuromodulação, fadiga e reabilitação motoraResumen-"tDCS en motor corteza no aumenta el rendimiento de fuerza en sujetos sanos." La influencia de estimulación transcraneal de corriente directa (tDCS) en ejercicios de fuerza muscular de rendimiento que reclutan grandes masas musculares no se ha establecido en la población sana. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar si la ETCC anódica podría mejorar el rendimiento durante el ejercicio máximo de la fuerza (EMF) en sujetos sanos. Catorce voluntarios (26 ± 4 años de edad) realizaron dos EMF con la aplicación previa de ETCC anódica y placebo (2 mA, 20 i) la participación de los flexores y extensores de la rodilla dominante en acción concéntrica (3 series de 10 repeticiones). La actividad eléctrica muscular (sEMG) en cuatro músculos reclutados se r...

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique used to modulate neural tissue. Neuromodulation apparently improves cognitive functions in several neurologic diseases treatment and sports performance. In this study, we present a comprehensive, integrative review of tDCS for motor rehabilitation and motor learning in healthy individuals, athletes and multiple neurologic and neuropsychiatric conditions. We also report on neuromodulation mechanisms, main applications, current knowledge including areas such as language, embodied cognition, functional and social aspects, and future directions. We present the use and perspectives of new developments in tDCS technology, namely high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) which promises to overcome one of the main tDCS limitation (i.e., low focality) and its application for neurological disease, pain relief, and motor learning/rehabilitation. Finally, we provided information regarding the Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) in clinical applications, Cerebellar tDCS (ctDCS) and its influence on motor learning, and TMS combined with electroencephalography (EEG) as a tool to evaluate tDCS effects on brain function.

The present study offers a new approach to assess brain activation during dynamic cycling exercise, and suggests that specific brain areas could be involved in the sensations generating the rating of perceived exertion.