Readiness potential in different states of physical activation and after ingestion of taurine and/or caffeine containing drinks

Abstract

To investigate the influence of taurine and caffeine containing drinks and physical stress on the cortical movement-preparation, the readiness potentials or "Bereitschaftspotentiale" (BPs), preceding voluntary self-placed pedalling movements, were examined after different states of exhaustion on an ergometer. 15 (13 right-handed) healthy men, aged between 22-30, participated in a randomised, cross over, double-blind, placebo controlled study. BPs were averaged out of artefact free EEG-segments from more than 90 triggered events, measured at 17 electrodes of the 10:20 system. With increasing effort the BPs were enlarged differently depending on the drink consumed. In placebo trials after exhaustive exercise premovement negative potential curves could be seen even in frontal areas. With caffeine the BPs increased after lower workload, achieving a level, which was reached in the placebo trials only after submaximal physical activation. Furthermore a significant shortening of premovement-brain-potentials in frontal and parietal regions could be seen in the caffeine trials at rest. Taurine admixture seems to inhibit this effects.

The acute effects of two energy drinks on endurance performance in female athlete students

“…Before the testing, participants were asked to adhere to the pre-test instructions: (1) wear comfortable, loosefitting clothing [7]; (2) avoid alcohol, nicotine and other stimulants the night before the experiment was performed [1,9]; (3) avoid exercise or strenuous physical activity the day of the test [7] and sudden changes in food consumption, including any nutritional supplementation products the day before the experimental measures were taken [1,5]; (4) maintain their regular physical activities during the days prior to the experiment [1,9] and (5) get an adequate amount of sleep (6-8 h) the night before the test [7].…”

Effects of caffeine on anticipatory control processes: Evidence from a cued task‐switch paradigm

“…These results coincide with previous studies showing that caffeine caused subtle improvements in cognitive operations, the most consistently reported of which are shorter RTs, often accompanied by fewer errors. These improvements have been ascribed to both general caffeine effects on arousal, such as enhanced alertness and wakefulness, and to more specific effects on perceptual, attentional, and motor processes (Barthel et al, 2001; Lorist & Snel, 1997; Snel, Lorist, & Tieges, 2004; Warburton, Bersellini, & Sweeney, 2001), as well as improvements in the ability to monitor ongoing actions for signs of conflict or erroneous outcome (Tieges, Ridderinkhof, Snel, & Kok, 2004).…”

Do energy drinks contain active components other than caffeine?

“…A similar combination and dose of test, control, and placebo drinks was used to examine electroencephalographic (EEG) and cardiac parameters during and following an incremental exercise test that used blood lactate levels to gauge the intensity of effort . These studies also did not include a familiarization session, a true placebo trial, or measurement of oxygen consumption.…”

“…These studies also did not include a familiarization session, a true placebo trial, or measurement of oxygen consumption. Artefact‐free EEG measurements were used to determine the readiness potential associated with a self‐paced kicking motion of the right leg at rest and at various stages of exercise, and M‐mode 2‐dimensional echocardiography was used to measure fractional shortening and left ventricular end diastolic and systolic diameters at rest before and after consumption of the drink and following exercise . During and following exercise, amplitude of the readiness potential was reduced during the Red Bull® trial; this was interpreted to imply that mental effort was reduced with taurine consumption.…”