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Zheng C, Cao Y, Li Y, Ye Z, Jia X, Li M, Yu Y, Liu W. Long-term table tennis training alters dynamic functional connectivity and white matter microstructure in large scale brain regions. Brain Res 2024; 1838:148889. [PMID: 38552934 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Table tennis training has been employed as an exercise treatment to enhance cognitive brain functioning in patients with mental illnesses. However, research on its underlying mechanisms remains limited. In this study, we investigated functional and structural changes in large-scale brain regions between 20 table tennis players (TTPs) and 21 healthy controls (HCs) using 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Compared with those of HCs, TTPs exhibited significantly greater fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity (AD) values in multiple fiber tracts. We used the locations with the most significant structural changes in white matter as the seed areas and then compared static and dynamic functional connectivity (sFC and dFC). Brodmann 11, located in the orbitofrontal cortex, showed altered dFC values to large-scale brain regions, such as the occipital lobe, thalamus, and cerebellar hemispheres, in TTPs. Brodmann 48, located in the temporal lobe, showed altered dFC to the parietal lobe, frontal lobe, cerebellum, and occipital lobe. Furthermore, the AD values of the forceps minor (Fmi) and right anterior thalamic radiations (ATRs) were negatively correlated with useful field of view (UFOV) test scores in TTPs. Our results suggest that table tennis players exhibit a unique pattern of dynamic neural activity, this provides evidence for potential mechanisms through which table tennis interventions can enhance attention and other cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanying Zheng
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuting Cao
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Li
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Xize Jia
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Mengting Li
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
| | - Yang Yu
- Psychiatry Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Wenming Liu
- Department of Sport Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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2
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Troisi Lopez E, Liparoti M, Passarello N, Lucidi F, Mandolesi L. Multimodal Physical Exercise Affects Visuo-Spatial Working Memory: Preliminary Evidence from a Descriptive Study on Tai-Chi Practitioners and Runners. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1400. [PMID: 37891768 PMCID: PMC10605525 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has shown a relationship between physical exercise (PE) and cognitive functioning. However, it is unknown if unimodal and multimodal modalities of PE affect cognitive abilities in different ways. To fill this gap, we analyzed the effects of unimodal PE (running) and multimodal PE (Tai Chi) on specific cognitive abilities. A sample of 33 participants (mean age = 52.6 ± 7.2) divided into eleven runners, eleven Tai Chi practitioners, and eleven age-matched sedentary individuals were subjected to a neuropsychological tests battery to assess shifting and problem solving abilities (Rule Shift Cards, BADS-RS, and Key Search tasks), verbal fluency (semantic and phonemic verbal fluency tasks), verbal memory (Rey's 15 words test), visuo-spatial working memory (Corsi test), and global cognitive functioning (clock-drawing test). The results showed significantly higher BADS-RS scores in runners and Tai Chi practitioners in comparison to the sedentary participants, thus evidencing improved shifting abilities for active individuals. Interestingly, post hoc analysis showed significantly higher span scores of Corsi test only in Tai Chi practitioners as compared to sedentary participants, suggesting how multimodal PE facilitates the visuo-spatial working memory processes. Although preliminary, our descriptive study indicates that the type of PE could modulate specific cognitive domains, even if the practice of motor activity favors a global cognitive improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emahnuel Troisi Lopez
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy;
| | - Marianna Liparoti
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Roma “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Noemi Passarello
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fabio Lucidi
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Roma “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Laura Mandolesi
- Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy;
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3
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Esagoff AI, Heckenlaible NJ, Bray MJC, Pasuizaca A, Bryant BR, Shan G, Peters ME, Bernick CB, Narapareddy BR. Sparring and the Brain: The Associations between Sparring and Regional Brain Volumes in Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighters. Sports Med 2023; 53:1641-1649. [PMID: 36972014 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01838-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, due to exposure to repetitive head impacts, are at risk for brain atrophy and neurodegenerative sequelae. Simultaneously, motor skills training and cognition-rich activities have been linked with larger regional brain volumes. The majority of an MMA fighter's sporting activity occurs during practice (e.g., sparring) rather than formal competition. This study, therefore, aims to be the first to explore regional brain volumes associated with sparring in MMA fighters. METHODS Ninety-four active, professional MMA fighters from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study met inclusion criteria for this cross-sectional analysis. Adjusted multivariable regression analyses were utilized to examine the relationship between the number of sparring practice rounds per week during typical training and a select number of regional brain volumes (i.e., caudate, thalamus, putamen, hippocampus, amygdala). RESULTS A higher number of weekly sparring rounds during training was significantly associated with larger left (beta = 13.5 µL/round, 95% CI 2.26-24.8) and right (beta = 14.9 µL/round, 95% CI 3.64-26.2) caudate volumes. Sparring was not significantly associated with left or right thalamus, putamen, hippocampus, or amygdala volumes. CONCLUSIONS More weekly rounds of sparring was not significantly associated with smaller volumes in any of the brain regions studied in active, professional MMA fighters. Sparring's significant association with larger caudate volume raises questions about whether fighters who spar more experience attenuated trauma-related decreases in caudate volume relative to fighters who spar less, whether fighters who spar more experience minimal or even positive changes to caudate volume, whether baseline differences in caudate size may have mediated results, or whether some other mechanism may be at play. Given limitations inherent to the cross-sectional study design, more research is needed to further explore the brain effects of sparring in MMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron I Esagoff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
| | - Nicolas J Heckenlaible
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Michael J C Bray
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Andres Pasuizaca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Barry R Bryant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Guogen Shan
- College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew E Peters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Charles B Bernick
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Cleveland Clinic, Neurological Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Bharat R Narapareddy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5300 Alpha Commons Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
- Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
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4
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Chen YH, Chang CY, Yen NS, Tsai SY. Brain plasticity of structural connectivity networks and topological properties in baseball players with different levels of expertise. Brain Cogn 2023; 166:105943. [PMID: 36621186 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2022.105943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Brain plasticity in structural connectivity networks along the development of expertise has remained largely unknown. To address this, we recruited individuals with three different levels of baseball-playing experience: skilled batters (SB), intermediate batters (IB), and healthy controls (HC). We constructed their structural connectivity networks using diffusion tractography and compared their region-to-region structural connections and the topological characteristics of the constructed networks using graph-theoretical analysis. The group differences were detected in 35 connections predominantly involving sensorimotor and visual systems; the intergroup changes could be depicted either in a stepwise (HC < / = IB < / = SB) or a U-/inverted U-shaped manner as experience increased (IB < SB and/or HC, or opposite). All groups showed small-world topology in their constructed networks, but SB had increased global and local network efficiency than IB and/or HC. Furthermore, although the number and cortical regions identified as hubs of the networks in the three groups were highly similar, SB exhibited higher nodal global efficiency in both the dorsolateral and medial parts of the bilateral superior frontal gyri than IB. Our findings add new evidence of topological reorganization in brain networks associated with sensorimotor experience in sports. Interestingly, these changes do not necessarily increase as a function of experience as previously suggested in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Hua Chen
- Graduate Institute of Athletics and Coaching Science, National Taiwan Sport University, No. 250, Wenhua 1st Rd, Guishan, Taoyuan 33301, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yen Chang
- Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, 162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Shing Yen
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, No. 64, Sec. 2, Zhi-Nan Rd, Wen-Shan District, Taipei 11605, Taiwan; Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, No. 64, Sec. 2, Zhi-Nan Rd, Wen-Shan District, Taipei 11605, Taiwan.
| | - Shang-Yueh Tsai
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, No. 64, Sec. 2, Zhi-Nan Rd, Wen-Shan District, Taipei 11605, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Applied Physics, National Chengchi University, No. 64, Sec. 2, Zhi-Nan Rd, Wen-Shan District, Taipei 11605, Taiwan.
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5
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Cao L, Zhang Y, Huang R, Li L, Xia F, Zou L, Yu Q, Lin J, Herold F, Perrey S, Mueller P, Dordevic M, Loprinzi PD, Wang Y, Ma Y, Zeng H, Qu S, Wu J, Ren Z. Structural and functional brain signatures of endurance runners. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 226:93-103. [PMID: 33159547 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02170-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Although endurance running (ER) seems to be a simple repetitive exercise, good ER performance also requires and relies on multiple cognitive and motor control processes. Most of previous neuroimaging studies on ER were conducted using a single MRI modality, yet no multimodal study to our knowledge has been performed in this regard. In this study, we used multimodal MRI data to investigate the brain structural and functional differences between endurance runners (n = 22; age = 26.27 ± 6.07 years; endurance training = 6.23 ± 2.41 years) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 20; age = 24.60 ± 4.14 years). Compared with the HCs, the endurance runners showed greater gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical surface area in the left precentral gyrus, which at the same time had higher functional connectivity (FC) with the right postcentral and precentral gyrus. Subcortically, the endurance runners showed greater GMV in the left hippocampus and regional inflation in the right hippocampus. Using the bilateral hippocampi as seeds, further seed-based FC analyses showed higher hippocampal FC with the supplementary motor area, middle cingulate cortex, and left posterior lobe of the cerebellum. Moreover, compared with the HCs, the endurance runners also showed higher fractional anisotropy in several white matter regions, involving the corpus callosum, left internal capsule, left corona radiata, left external capsule, left posterior lobe of cerebellum and bilateral precuneus. Taken together, our findings provide several lines of evidence for the brain structural and functional differences between endurance runners and HCs. The current data suggest that these brain characteristics may have arisen as a result of regular ER training; however, whether they represent the neural correlates underlying the good ER performances of the endurance runners requires further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Cao
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Yuanchao Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.
| | - Ruiwang Huang
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lunxiong Li
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Fengguang Xia
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Liye Zou
- Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qian Yu
- Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jingyuan Lin
- Exercise and Mental Health Laboratory, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Fabian Herold
- Research Group Neuroprotection, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Otto Von Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stephane Perrey
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Mueller
- Research Group Neuroprotection, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Otto Von Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Milos Dordevic
- Research Group Neuroprotection, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Otto Von Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Paul D Loprinzi
- Exercise & Memory Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Yudan Ma
- Jilin Institute of Sport Science, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Hongfa Zeng
- Department of Physical Education, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Sicen Qu
- Department of Physical Education, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jinlong Wu
- Department of Physical Education, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhanbing Ren
- Department of Physical Education, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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6
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Chen FT, Erickson KI, Huang H, Chang YK. The association between physical fitness parameters and white matter microstructure in older adults: A diffusion tensor imaging study. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13539. [PMID: 32030777 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to examine whether different measures of physical fitness are differentially associated with white matter (WM) microstructure in older adults. Fifty-six healthy adults (mean age: 59.14 years) completed a standardized evaluation of physical fitness measurements (e.g., VO2peak , push-ups, abdominal sit-ups, sit-and-reach, t test, and vertical jump). Fractional anisotropy (FA), an index of WM microstructure, was assessed using diffusion tensor imaging. The findings indicated that the cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with FA in the right cingulum hippocampus and the left cerebral peduncle. However, other physical fitness metrics were not significantly associated with FA in any region. These results suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, but not other metrics of fitness, might be sensitive to WM microstructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Tzu Chen
- Graduate Institute of Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Management, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan)
| | - Kirk I Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Discipline of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Haiqing Huang
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yu-Kai Chang
- Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan).,Institute for Research Excellence in Learning Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan)
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7
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Tremblay S, Pascual-Leone A, Théoret H. A review of the effects of physical activity and sports concussion on brain function and anatomy. Int J Psychophysiol 2018; 132:167-175. [PMID: 28893565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Physical activity has been associated with widespread anatomical and functional brain changes that occur following acute exercise or, in the case of athletes, throughout life. High levels of physical activity through the practice of sports also lead to better general health and increased cognitive function. Athletes are at risk, however, of suffering a concussion, the effects of which have been extensively described for brain function and anatomy. The level to which these effects are modulated by increased levels of fitness is not known. Here, we review literature describing the effects of physical activity and sports concussions on white matter, grey matter, neurochemistry and cortical excitability. We suggest that the effects of sports concussion can be coufounded by the effects of exercise. Indeed, available data show that the brain of athletes is different from that of healthy individuals with a non-active lifestyle. As a result, sports concussions take place in a context where structural/functional plasticity has occurred prior to the concussive event. The sports concussion literature does not permit, at present, to separate the effects of intense and repeated physical activity, and the abrupt removal from such activities, from those of concussion on brain structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tremblay
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Division for Cognitive Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hugo Théoret
- Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
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8
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Monda V, Valenzano A, Moscatelli F, Salerno M, Sessa F, Triggiani AI, Viggiano A, Capranica L, Marsala G, De Luca V, Cipolloni L, Ruberto M, Precenzano F, Carotenuto M, Zammit C, Gelzo M, Monda M, Cibelli G, Messina G, Messina A. Primary Motor Cortex Excitability in Karate Athletes: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study. Front Physiol 2017; 8:695. [PMID: 28955250 PMCID: PMC5600924 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The mechanisms involved in the coordination of muscle activity are not completely known: to investigate adaptive changes in human motor cortex Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was often used. The sport models are frequently used to study how the training may affect the corticospinal system excitability: Karate represents a valuable sport model for this kind of investigations for its high levels of coordination required to athletes. This study was aimed at examining possible changes in the resting motor threshold (rMT) and in the corticospinal response in karate athletes, and at determining whether athletes are characterized by a specific value of rMT. Methods: We recruited 25 right-handed young karate athletes and 25 matched non-athletes. TMS was applied to primary motor cortex (M1). Motor evoked potential (MEP) were recorded by two electrodes placed above the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle. We considered MEP latencies and amplitudes at rMT, 110% of rMT, and 120% of rMT. Results: The two groups were similar for age (p > 0.05), height (p > 0.05) and body mass (p > 0.05). The TMS had a 70-mm figure-of-eight coil and a maximum output of 2.2 T, placed over the left motor cortex. During the stimulation, a mechanical arm kept the coil tangential to the scalp, with the handle at 45° respect to the midline. The SofTaxic navigator system (E.M.S. Italy, www.emsmedical.net) was used in order to correctly identifying and repeating the stimulation for every subject. Compared to non-athletes, athletes showed a lower resting motor threshold (p < 0.001). Furthermore, athletes had a lower MEP latency (p < 0.001) and a higher MEP amplitude (p < 0.001) compared to non-athletes. Moreover, a ROC curve for rMT was found significant (area: 0.907; sensitivity 84%, specificity 76%). Conclusions: As the main finding, the present study showed significant differences in cortical excitability between athletes and non-athletes. The training can improve cortical excitability inducing athletes' modifications, as demonstrated in rMT and MEP values. These finding support the hypothesis that the sport practice determines specific brain organizations in relationship with the sport challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Valenzano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Moscatelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Antonio I Triggiani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Andrea Viggiano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of SalernoSalerno, Italy
| | - Laura Capranica
- Department of Motor, Human and Health Science, University of Rome, "Foro Italico"Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Marsala
- Struttura Complessa di Farmacia, Azienda Ospedaliero-UniversitariaFoggia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Luca
- Department of Psychiatry, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luigi Cipolloni
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Università degli Studi di Roma La SapienzaRome, Italy
| | - Maria Ruberto
- Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Precenzano
- Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Naples, Italy
| | - Christian Zammit
- Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of MaltaMsida, Malta
| | - Monica Gelzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico IINaples, Italy
| | - Marcellino Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cibelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy
| | - Antonietta Messina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Naples, Italy
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9
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Raichlen DA, Bharadwaj PK, Fitzhugh MC, Haws KA, Torre GA, Trouard TP, Alexander GE. Differences in Resting State Functional Connectivity between Young Adult Endurance Athletes and Healthy Controls. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:610. [PMID: 28018192 PMCID: PMC5147411 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Expertise and training in fine motor skills has been associated with changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity. Fewer studies have explored the neural effects of athletic activities that do not seem to rely on precise fine motor control (e.g., distance running). Here, we compared resting-state functional connectivity in a sample of adult male collegiate distance runners (n = 11; age = 21.3 ± 2.5) and a group of healthy age-matched non-athlete male controls (n = 11; age = 20.6 ± 1.1), to test the hypothesis that expertise in sustained aerobic motor behaviors affects resting state functional connectivity in young adults. Although generally considered an automated repetitive task, locomotion, especially at an elite level, likely engages multiple cognitive actions including planning, inhibition, monitoring, attentional switching and multi-tasking, and motor control. Here, we examined connectivity in three resting-state networks that link such executive functions with motor control: the default mode network (DMN), the frontoparietal network (FPN), and the motor network (MN). We found two key patterns of significant between-group differences in connectivity that are consistent with the hypothesized cognitive demands of elite endurance running. First, enhanced connectivity between the FPN and brain regions often associated with aspects of working memory and other executive functions (frontal cortex), suggest endurance running may stress executive cognitive functions in ways that increase connectivity in associated networks. Second, we found significant anti-correlations between the DMN and regions associated with motor control (paracentral area), somatosensory functions (post-central region), and visual association abilities (occipital cortex). DMN deactivation with task-positive regions has been shown to be generally beneficial for cognitive performance, suggesting anti-correlated regions observed here are engaged during running. For all between-group differences, there were significant associations between connectivity, self-reported physical activity, and estimates of maximum aerobic capacity, suggesting a dose-response relationship between engagement in endurance running and connectivity strength. Together these results suggest that differences in experience with endurance running are associated with differences in functional brain connectivity. High intensity aerobic activity that requires sustained, repetitive locomotor and navigational skills may stress cognitive domains in ways that lead to altered brain connectivity, which in turn has implications for understanding the beneficial role of exercise for brain and cognitive function over the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pradyumna K. Bharadwaj
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
| | - Megan C. Fitzhugh
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
| | - Kari A. Haws
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
| | | | - Theodore P. Trouard
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, PhoenixAZ, USA
| | - Gene E. Alexander
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, PhoenixAZ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
- Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona, TucsonAZ, USA
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Differences in Cortical Representation and Structural Connectivity of Hands and Feet between Professional Handball Players and Ballet Dancers. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:6817397. [PMID: 27247805 PMCID: PMC4876236 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6817397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It is known that intensive training and expertise are associated with functional and structural neuroadaptations. Most studies, however, compared experts with nonexperts; hence it is, specifically for sports, unclear whether the neuroplastic adaptations reported are sport-specific or sport-general. Here we aimed at investigating sport-specific adaptations in professional handball players and ballet dancers by focusing on the primary motor and somatosensory grey matter (GM) representation of hands and feet using voxel-based morphometry as well as on fractional anisotropy (FA) of the corticospinal tract by means of diffusion tensor imaging-based fibre tractography. As predicted, GM volume was increased in hand areas of handball players, whereas ballet dancers showed increased GM volume in foot areas. Compared to handball players, ballet dancers showed decreased FA in both fibres connecting the foot and hand areas, but they showed lower FA in fibres connecting the foot compared to their hand areas, whereas handball players showed lower FA in fibres connecting the hand compared to their foot areas. Our results suggest that structural adaptations are sport-specific and are manifested in brain regions associated with the neural processing of sport-specific skills. We believe this enriches the plasticity research in general and extends our knowledge of sport expertise in particular.
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