1
|
Qi Y, Zhao M, Yan Z, Jia X, Wang Y. Altered spontaneous regional brain activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex and visual area of expert table tennis athletes. Brain Imaging Behav 2024; 18:529-538. [PMID: 38246897 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00841-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Sports training may lead to functional changes in the brain, and different types of sports, including table tennis, have different influences on these changes. However, the effects of long-term table tennis practice on brain function in expert athletes are largely undefined. Here, we investigated spontaneous regional brain activity characteristics of expert table tennis athletes by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare differences between 25 athletes and 33 age- and sex-matched non-athletes. We analyzed four metrics-amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF, regional homogeneity, and degree centrality-because together they identify functional changes in the brain with greater sensitivity than a single indicator and may more comprehensively describe regional functional changes. Additional statistical analysis was conducted to assess whether any correlation existed between brain activity and years of table tennis training for athletes. Results show that compared with non-athletes, table tennis athletes showed altered spontaneous regional brain activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the calcarine sulcus, a visual area. Furthermore, the functional changes in the calcarine sulcus showed a significant correlation with the number of years of expert sports training. Despite the relatively small sample size, these results indicated that the regional brain function of table tennis athletes was associated with sports training-related changes, providing insights for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the expert performance of athletes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yapeng Qi
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, No. 399 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Mengqi Zhao
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent, Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, No. 688 Yingbin Avenue, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321004, China
| | - Zhurui Yan
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, No. 399 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Xize Jia
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent, Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, No. 688 Yingbin Avenue, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321004, China.
| | - Yingying Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
- Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, No. 399 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen KF, Chueh TY, Hung TM. Differences in visuospatial cognition among table tennis players of different skill levels: an event-related potential study. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17295. [PMID: 38827290 PMCID: PMC11144390 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the influence of sport skill levels on behavioural and neuroelectric performance in visuospatial attention and memory visuospatial tasks were administered to 54 participants, including 18 elite and 18 amateur table tennis players and 18 nonathletes, while event-related potentials were recorded. In all the visuospatial attention and memory conditions, table tennis players displayed faster reaction times than nonathletes, regardless of skill level, although there was no difference in accuracy between groups. In addition, regardless of task conditions, both player groups had a greater P3 amplitude than nonathletes, and elite players exhibited a greater P3 amplitude than amateurs players. The results of this study indicate that table tennis players, irrespective of their skill level, exhibit enhanced visuospatial capabilities. Notably, athletes at the elite level appear to benefit from an augmented allocation of attentional resources when engaging in visuospatial tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Fu Chen
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yu Chueh
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Min Hung
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dong X, Gui X, Klich S, Zhu L, Chen D, Sun Z, Shi Y, Chen A. The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1362418. [PMID: 38516307 PMCID: PMC10954781 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1362418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the relationship between motor skill learning and executive function (EF), with an emphasis on the potential effects of football juggling learning. A randomized controlled trial involving 111 participants aged 17-19 years was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the football juggling learning (FJL) group or a control group. The FJL group underwent 70 sessions of football juggling learning, while the control group engaged in their normal daily activities without any exercise intervention during the same time frame. Both groups were assessed for EF performance and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after the experiment. The executive function test included three tasks, namely, inhibition, working memory, and shifting. The results showed significant improvement in inhibition and shifting in both groups, and the FJL group showed greater improvement in these aspects of EF compared to the control group. Additionally, in comparison to the control group, the FJL group exhibited increased functional connectivity within the frontal, temporal, and cerebellar regions from the pre-test to the post-test. Notably, enhanced functional connectivity between the right superior temporal gyrus (posterior division) and left cerebellum 6 was identified in the FJL group and was associated with improved EF performance induced by football juggling learning. These findings shed light on the potential causal relationship between motor skill learning, EF, and brain plasticity. Importantly, our study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of motor skill learning, such as football juggling, as a potential avenue for cognitive enhancement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiang Gui
- Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Sebastian Klich
- Department of Paralympic Sport, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Lina Zhu
- Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Yifan Shi
- Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yan S, Zhao G, Zhang Q, Liu L, Bai X, Jin H. Altered resting-state brain function in endurance athletes. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae076. [PMID: 38494416 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous research has confirmed significant differences in regional brain activity and functional connectivity between endurance athletes and non-athletes. However, no studies have investigated the differences in topological efficiency of the brain functional network between endurance athletes and non-athletes. Here, we compared differences in regional activities, functional connectivity, and topological properties to explore the functional basis associated with endurance training. The results showed significant correlations between Regional Homogeneity in the motor cortex, visual cortex, cerebellum, and the training intensity parameters. Alterations in functional connectivity among the motor cortex, visual cortex, cerebellum, and the inferior frontal gyrus and cingulate gyrus were significantly correlated with training intensity parameters. In addition, the graph theoretical analysis results revealed a significant reduction in global efficiency among athletes. This decline is mainly caused by decreased nodal efficiency and nodal local efficiency of the cerebellar regions. Notably, the sensorimotor regions, such as the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor areas, still exhibit increased nodal efficiency and nodal local efficiency. This study not only confirms the improvement of regional activity in brain regions related to endurance training, but also offers novel insights into the mechanisms through which endurance athletes undergo changes in the topological efficiency of the brain functional network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shizhen Yan
- School of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Guang Zhao
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Qihan Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Liqing Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Xuejun Bai
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Hua Jin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kang N. Increased Cerebellar Gray Matter Volume in Athletes: A Voxel-Wise Coordinate-Based Meta-Analysis. RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT 2023; 94:597-608. [PMID: 35438607 DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2022.2026285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis study was to investigate distinct brain structural characteristics in athletes as compared with those in non-athletes by quantifying regional gray matter (GM) volume changes using voxel-based morphometry analysis based on a whole-brain approach. Methods: The systematic literature search was conducted from November 1, 2020 to October 18, 2021 via the two search engines including the PubMed and Web of Science. We included 13 studies that reported GM volume data in 229 athletes as compared 219 non-athletes based on the whole-brain analysis with specific three-dimensional coordinates in a standard stereotactic space. Thus, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis using the seed-based d mapping via permutation of subject images methods. Result: The coordinate-based meta-analysis reported that the athletes significantly reveal greater regional GM volume across right cerebellar lobules IV-V and Brodmann area 37 regions than those in the non-athletes with minimal levels of heterogeneity and publication bias between the included studies. The subgroup analyses show that greater GM volume for athletes in closed-skill sports appeared across the right cerebellar hemispheric lobules VIII and the right cingulum than those for non-athletes. Conclusion: These cumulative findings from multiple brain imaging studies suggest potential brain plasticity evidence in the athletes who experienced extensive motor training.
Collapse
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li Y, Zhao M, Cao Y, Gao Y, Wang Y, Yun B, Luo L, Liu W, Zheng C. Static and dynamic resting-state brain activity patterns of table tennis players in 7-Tesla MRI. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1202932. [PMID: 37521699 PMCID: PMC10375049 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1202932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Table tennis involves quick and accurate motor responses during training and competition. Multiple studies have reported considerably faster visuomotor responses and expertise-related intrinsic brain activity changes among table tennis players compared with matched controls. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we performed static and dynamic resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) analyses of 20 table tennis players and 21 control subjects using 7T ultra-high field imaging. We calculated the static and dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the two groups. The results revealed that table tennis players exhibited decreased static ALFF in the left inferior temporal gyrus (lITG) compared with the control group. Voxel-wised static functional connectivity (sFC) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) analyses using lITG as the seed region afforded complementary and overlapping results. The table tennis players exhibited decreased sFC in the right middle temporal gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus. Conversely, they displayed increased dFC from the lITG to prefrontal cortex, particularly the left middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus-medial, and left superior frontal gyrus-dorsolateral. These findings suggest that table tennis players demonstrate altered visuomotor transformation and executive function pathways. Both pathways involve the lITG, which is a vital node in the ventral visual stream. These static and dynamic analyses provide complementary and overlapping results, which may help us better understand the neural mechanisms underlying the changes in intrinsic brain activity and network organization induced by long-term table tennis skill training.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengqi Zhao
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yuting Cao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanyan Gao
- School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yadan Wang
- College of Information and Electronic Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Bing Yun
- Department of Public Physical and Art Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Le Luo
- Hangzhou Wuyunshan Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenming Liu
- Department of Sport Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chanying Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Carius D, Herold F, Clauß M, Kaminski E, Wagemann F, Sterl C, Ragert P. Increased Cortical Activity in Novices Compared to Experts During Table Tennis: A Whole-Brain fNIRS Study Using Threshold-Free Cluster Enhancement Analysis. Brain Topogr 2023; 36:500-516. [PMID: 37119404 PMCID: PMC10293405 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-023-00963-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing interest to understand the neural underpinnings of high-level sports performance including expertise-related differences in sport-specific skills. Here, we aimed to investigate whether expertise level and task complexity modulate the cortical hemodynamics of table tennis players. 35 right-handed table tennis players (17 experts/18 novices) were recruited and performed two table tennis strokes (forehand and backhand) and a randomized combination of them. Cortical hemodynamics, as a proxy for cortical activity, were recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and the behavioral performance (i.e., target accuracy) was assessed via video recordings. Expertise- and task-related differences in cortical hemodynamics were analyzed using nonparametric threshold-free cluster enhancement. In all conditions, table tennis experts showed a higher target accuracy than novices. Furthermore, we observed expertise-related differences in widespread clusters compromising brain areas being associated with sensorimotor and multisensory integration. Novices exhibited, in general, higher activation in those areas as compared to experts. We also identified task-related differences in cortical activity including frontal, sensorimotor, and multisensory brain areas. The present findings provide empirical support for the neural efficiency hypothesis since table tennis experts as compared to novices utilized a lower amount of cortical resources to achieve superior behavioral performance. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the task complexity of different table tennis strokes is mirrored in distinct cortical activation patterns. Whether the latter findings can be useful to monitor or tailor sport-specific training interventions necessitates further investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Carius
- Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sport Science, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Fabian Herold
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Martina Clauß
- Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sport Science, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kaminski
- Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sport Science, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Florian Wagemann
- Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sport Science, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Clemens Sterl
- Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sport Science, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Ragert
- Department of Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Sport Science, Leipzig University, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang Y, Ji Q, Zhou C, Wang Y. Brain mechanisms linking language processing and open motor skill training. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:911894. [PMID: 35992938 PMCID: PMC9386041 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.911894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the discovery of a distributed language and motor functional network, surprisingly few studies have explored whether language processing is related to motor skill training. To address this issue, the present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare whole-brain activation between nonexperts and experts in table tennis, an open skill sport in which players make rapid decisions in response to an ever-changing environment. Whole-brain activation was assessed in 30 expert table tennis players with more than 7 years’ experience and 35 age-matched nonexpert college students while they performed both a size and a semantic judgment task of words presented on a monitor. Compared with nonexperts, expert table tennis players showed greater activation in the left middle occipital gyrus and right precuneus while judging the size of the words versus during baseline fixation. They also showed greater activation in the left lingual gyrus during the semantic judgment task versus during baseline fixation. Our findings indicate that the visual regions engaged in language processing are associated with open motor skill training.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingchun Ji
- Department of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenglin Zhou
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yingying Wang,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gonçalves AC, Gaspar D, Flores-Félix JD, Falcão A, Alves G, Silva LR. Effects of Functional Phenolics Dietary Supplementation on Athletes' Performance and Recovery: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4652. [PMID: 35563043 PMCID: PMC9102074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, many efforts have been made to identify micronutrients or nutritional strategies capable of preventing, or at least, attenuating, exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress, and improving athlete performance. The reason is that most exercises induce various changes in mitochondria and cellular cytosol that lead to the generation of reactive species and free radicals whose accumulation can be harmful to human health. Among them, supplementation with phenolic compounds seems to be a promising approach since their chemical structure, composed of catechol, pyrogallol, and methoxy groups, gives them remarkable health-promoting properties, such as the ability to suppress inflammatory processes, counteract oxidative damage, boost the immune system, and thus, reduce muscle soreness and accelerate recovery. Phenolic compounds have also already been shown to be effective in improving temporal performance and reducing psychological stress and fatigue. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current knowledge on the effects of dietary phenolics on physical performance and recovery in athletes and sports practitioners. Overall, the reports show that phenolics exert important benefits on exercise-induced muscle damage as well as play a biological/physiological role in improving physical performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Gonçalves
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (J.D.F.-F.); (G.A.)
- CIBIT—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Dário Gaspar
- Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal;
| | - José David Flores-Félix
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (J.D.F.-F.); (G.A.)
| | - Amílcar Falcão
- CIBIT—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Alves
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (J.D.F.-F.); (G.A.)
| | - Luís R. Silva
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (J.D.F.-F.); (G.A.)
- CPIRN-UDI/IPG—Center of Potential and Innovation of Natural Resources, Research Unit for Inland Development (UDI), Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhang K, Jan YK, Liu Y, Zhao T, Zhang L, Liu R, Liu J, Cao C. Exercise Intensity and Brain Plasticity: What’s the Difference of Brain Structural and Functional Plasticity Characteristics Between Elite Aerobic and Anaerobic Athletes? Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:757522. [PMID: 35273485 PMCID: PMC8901604 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.757522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the differences in morphometry and functional plasticity characteristics of the brain after long-term training of different intensities. Results showed that an aerobic group demonstrated higher gray matter volume in the cerebellum and temporal lobe, while an anaerobic group demonstrated higher gray matter volume in the region of basal ganglia. In addition, the aerobic group also showed significantly higher fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and degree centrality (DC) in the motor area of the frontal lobe and parietal lobe, and the frontal gyrus, respectively. At the same time, the anaerobic group demonstrated higher fALFF and DC in the cerebellum posterior lobe (family-wise error corrected, p < 0.01). These findings may further prove that different brain activation modes respond to different intensities of physical activity and may help to reveal the neural mechanisms that can classify athletes from different intensity sports.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keying Zhang
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yih-Kuen Jan
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Psychology, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, China
| | - Tao Zhao
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lingtao Zhang
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruidong Liu
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxiu Liu
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunmei Cao
- Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Chunmei Cao,
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Prakash P, Nath AM, Joy M, Prabhu P. Evaluation of auditory working memory in Bharatanatyam dancers. J Otol 2022; 17:95-100. [PMID: 35949551 PMCID: PMC9349002 DOI: 10.1016/j.joto.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroplasticity is a phenomenon exhibited by our nervous system as an indicator of overall development and in response to training, injury/loss of particular function, treatment/drugs and as a result of stimulation from the surrounding environment. Objective The aim of the current study was to assess the auditory working memory capacities in Bharatanatyam dancers. Method The participants comprised fifty-four females with normal hearing sensitivity who belonged to two groups. Group-I consisted of 27 individuals who underwent formal training in Bharatanatyam for a minimum period of three years. Group-II consisted of the age-matched control group, consisting of 27 individuals who were non-dancers. The auditory working memory tasks included arranging the English digits presented binaurally in forward, backward, ascending, and descending spans. The maximum values (for the length of sequence arranged), midpoint values (average score), and response time for each task were noted down and compared among groups. Results The scores were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, which revealed enhanced working memory exhibited by dancers for maximum values and midpoint scores for all three tasks except ascending span. It was also noted that the dancers exhibited a shorter response time compared to non-dancers for all the tasks except ascending span. Conclusion The current study highlights an enhanced auditory working memory capacity in Bharatanatyam dancers, which could be perceived as evidence of neuroplastic changes induced in the auditory and motor cortex as a consequence of extensive stimulation for auditory processing abilities and motor planning resulting from long-term dance training and regular practice.
Collapse
|