Modifications in the human EEG during extralong physical activity

Abstract

In a single-case study, the effects of very long-lasting physical exercise, namely a 24-h-long ultramarathon, on the human electroencephalogram (EEG) were evaluated. While only effects of relatively short exercise have been reported earlier, we focused on the changes induced by these long-lasting physical requires. EEG was recorded repeatedly using an auditory oddball paradigm, and event-related potentials (ERPs), as well as changes in the current oscillatory brain activity (in particular, event-related desynchronization, ERD), were repeatedly monitored. While an increase in several attention-related ERP parameters was reported for shorter exercises, the results of our study show that cognitive performance-related EEG phenomena slowly decreased throughout the race. The P300 amplitude decreased, and the P300 latency increased with ongoing exercise duration. In addition, the difference between standard and target tones at N200b, as well as the difference in the lower alpha ERD, decreased with time, indicating a reduced automatic stimulus evaluation.

Effect of locomotor demands on cognitive processing

“…demonstrated that walking altered cognitive task ERP amplitude and topography relative to a seated condition. Additionally, several studies have demonstrated that increased physical exertion requires additional cortical activation 14–16 . Thus, as the locomotor task becomes more demanding, such as increasing physical demand with a load, more cortical resources may be allocated to the locomotor task.…”

Prolonged Moderate-Intensity Exercise Impairs Attention and Working Memory Beyond 24 Hours

“…This transient enhancement was followed by a decline in amplitude and an increase in latency by 120 minutes, with both measures returning to baseline by the end of the three hours. Similarly, Doppelmayr et al (2007) noted a consistent decline in amplitude and prolongation in latency throughout a 24-hour treadmill run, though this study involved only a single participant. These results suggest that while exercise can initially enhance cognitive functions, it may eventually lead to fatigue effects that temporarily diminish cognitive efficiency, as reflected in the alterations in P300.…”

Identifying the Muscle Contraction Activity at Athletes Using Brain Mapping

“…Considering that many recent research papers about functional anatomy, emphasized strong connections between motor cerebral areas and pre-frontal ones and that professional training performed on a period of time longer than 5 years, produced cerebral hemispheres functional plastic modifications,this connection worth to be study from now on (Doppelmayr & Doppelmayr, 2008).…”