EEG-derived brain graphs are reliable measures for exploring exercise-induced changes in brain networks

Unveiling the acute neurophysiological responses to strength training: An exploratory study on novices performing weightlifting bouts with different motor learning models

Currently, there is limited evidence regarding various neurophysiological responses to strength exercise and the influence of the adopted practice schedule. This study aimed to assess the acute systemic effects of snatch training bouts, employing different motor learning models, on skill efficiency, electric brain activity (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV), and perceived exertion as well as mental demand in novices. In a within-subject design, sixteen highly active males (mean age: 23.13 ± 2.09 years) randomly performed snatch learning bouts consisting of 36 trials using repetitive learning (RL), contextual interference (blocked, CIb; and serial, CIs), and differential learning (DL) models. Spontaneous resting EEG and HRV activities were recorded at PRE and POST training bouts while measuring heart rate. Perceived exertion and mental demand were assessed immediately after, and barbell kinematics were recorded during three power snatch trials performed following the POST measurement. The results showed increases in alpha, beta, and gamma frequencies from pre- to post-training bouts in the majority of the tested brain regions (p values ranging from < 0.0001 to 0.02). The CIb model exhibited increased frequencies in more regions. Resting time domain HRV parameters were altered following the snatch bouts, with increased HR (p < 0.001) and decreased RR interval (p < 0.001), SDNN, and RMSSD (p values ranging from < 0.0001 to 0.02). DL showed more pronounced pulse-related changes (p = 0.01). Significant changes in HRV frequency domain parameters were observed, with a significant increase in LFn (p = 0.03) and a decrease in HFn (p = 0.001) registered only in the DL model. Elevated HR zones (> HR zone 3) were more dominant in the DL model during the snatch bouts (effect size = 0.5). Similarly, the DL model tended to exhibit higher perceived physical (effect size = 0.5) and mental exertions (effect size = 0.6). Despite the highest psycho-physiological response, the DL group showed one of the fewest significant EEG changes. There was no significant advantage of one learning model over the other in terms of technical efficiency. These findings offer preliminary support for the acute neurophysiological benefits of coordination-strength-based exercise in novices, particularly when employing a DL model. The advantages of combining EEG and HRV measurements for comprehensive monitoring and understanding of potential adaptations are also highlighted. However, further studies encompassing a broader range of coordination-strength-based exercises are warranted to corroborate these observations.

An ecological study protocol for the multimodal investigation of the neurophysiological underpinnings of dyadic joint action

A novel multimodal experimental setup and dyadic study protocol were designed to investigate the neurophysiological underpinnings of joint action through the synchronous acquisition of EEG, ECG, EMG, respiration and kinematic data from two individuals engaged in ecologic and naturalistic cooperative and competitive joint actions involving face-to-face real-time and real-space coordinated full body movements. Such studies are still missing because of difficulties encountered in recording reliable neurophysiological signals during gross body movements, in synchronizing multiple devices, and in defining suitable study protocols. The multimodal experimental setup includes the synchronous recording of EEG, ECG, EMG, respiration and kinematic signals of both individuals via two EEG amplifiers and a motion capture system that are synchronized via a single-board microcomputer and custom Python scripts. EEG is recorded using new dry sports electrode caps. The novel study protocol is designed to best exploit the multimodal data acquisitions. Table tennis is the dyadic motor task: it allows naturalistic and face-to-face interpersonal interactions, free in-time and in-space full body movement coordination, cooperative and competitive joint actions, and two task difficulty levels to mimic changing external conditions. Recording conditions-including minimum table tennis rally duration, sampling rate of kinematic data, total duration of neurophysiological recordings-were defined according to the requirements of a multilevel analytical approach including a neural level (hyperbrain functional connectivity, Graph Theoretical measures and Microstate analysis), a cognitive-behavioral level (integrated analysis of neural and kinematic data), and a social level (extending Network Physiology to neurophysiological data recorded from two interacting individuals). Four practical tests for table tennis skills were defined to select the study population, permitting to skill-match the dyad members and to form two groups of higher and lower skilled dyads to explore the influence of skill level on joint action performance. Psychometric instruments are included to assess personality traits and support interpretation of results. Studying joint action with our proposed protocol can advance the understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms sustaining daily life joint actions and could help defining systems to predict cooperative or competitive behaviors before being overtly expressed, particularly useful in real-life contexts where social behavior is a main feature.

Repeatability of Brain Activity as Measured by a 32-Channel EEG System during Resistance Exercise in Healthy Young Adults

Electroencephalography (EEG) is attracting increasing attention in the sports and exercise fields, as it provides insights into brain behavior during specific tasks. However, it remains unclear if the promising wireless EEG caps provide reliable results despite the artifacts associated with head movement. The present study aims to evaluate the repeatability of brain activity as measured by a wireless 32-channel EEG system (EMOTIV flex cap) during resistance exercises in 18 apparently healthy but physically inactive young adults (10 men and 8 women). Moderate-intensity leg press exercises are performed with two evaluations with 48 h. between. This intensity allows enough time for data analysis while reducing unnecessary but involuntary head movements. Repeated measurements of EEG during the resistance exercise show high repeatability in all frequency bands, with excellent ICCs (>0.90) and bias close to zero, regardless of sex. These results suggest that a 32-channel wireless EEG system can be used to collect data on controlled resistance exercise tasks performed at moderate intensities. Future studies should replicate these results with a bigger sample size and different resistance exercises and intensities.