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Jiao F, Zhuang J, Nitsche MA, Lin Z, Ma Y, Liu Y. Application of transcranial alternating current stimulation to improve eSports-related cognitive performance. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1308370. [PMID: 38476869 PMCID: PMC10927847 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1308370] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Electronic Sports (eSports) is a popular and still emerging sport. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) and First/Third Person Shooting Games (FPS/TPS) require excellent visual attention abilities. Visual attention involves specific frontal and parietal areas, and is associated with alpha coherence. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a principally suitable tool to improve cognitive functions by modulation of regional oscillatory cortical networks that alters regional and larger network connectivity. Methods In this single-blinded crossover study, 27 healthy college students were recruited and exposed to 10 Hz tACS of the right frontoparietal network. Subjects conducted a Visual Spatial Attention Distraction task in three phases: T0 (pre-stimulation), T1 (during stimulation), T2 (after-stimulation), and an eSports performance task which contained three games ("Exact Aiming," "Flick Aiming," "Press Reaction") before and after stimulation. Results The results showed performance improvements in the "Exact Aiming" task and hint for a prevention of reaction time performance decline in the "Press Reaction" task in the real, as compared to the sham stimulation group. We also found a significant decrease of reaction time in the visual spatial attention distraction task at T1 compared to T0 in the real, but not sham intervention group. However, accuracy and inverse efficiency scores (IES) did not differ between intervention groups in this task. Discussion These results suggest that 10 Hz tACS over the right frontal and parietal cortex might improve eSports-related skill performance in specific tasks, and also improve visual attention in healthy students during stimulation. This tACS protocol is a potential tool to modulate neurocognitive performance involving tracking targets, and might be a foundation for the development of a new concept to enhance eSports performance. This will require however proof in real life scenarios, as well optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fujia Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jie Zhuang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Michael A. Nitsche
- Department Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Bochum, Germany
| | - Zhenggen Lin
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanbo Ma
- Department Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Yu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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Zhiqiang Z, Wei W, Yunqi T, Yu L. Effects of Bilateral Extracephalic Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Lower Limb Kinetics in Countermovement Jumps. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2241. [PMID: 36767607 PMCID: PMC9915197 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an effective method for improving sports/exercise performance in humans. However, studies examining the effects of tDCS on jumping performance have reported inconsistent findings, and there is a paucity of studies investigating the effects of tDCS on lower limb energy and kinetics in countermovement jumps (CMJs). Thus, we investigated the effects of tDCS on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and analysed kinetic variations in the ankle, knee, and hip joints. METHODS In total, 15 healthy young participants randomly received anodal or sham bilateral stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1). The bilateral tDCS (Bi-tDCS) montage used an intensity of 2 mA for a 20 min monophasic continuous current. Jump height, energy, and lower limb kinetic data in CMJs were collected at pre-stimulation (Pre), post-0 min (Post-0), and post-30 min (Post-30) using a motion capture system and two 3D force plates. Jump height, lower extremity energy, and kinetic variables in CMJs were analysed with two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS (1) Compared to the baseline and sham conditions, the jump height increased except that at Post-30 relative to the sham condition, and the total net energy of lower limbs increased at Post-30 relative to the baseline. (2) Compared to the baseline, the ankle positive energy and net energy decreased in the sham condition; Compared to the baseline and values at Post-0, the maximum ankle torque at Post-30 decreased in both stimulation conditions. (3) The maximum knee power increased compared to the baseline and sham conditions. (4) Regardless of time points, the maximum hip torque in the tDCS condition was higher than it was in the sham condition. CONCLUSION Bi-tDCS is an effective method for improving jump height by modulating ankle and knee net energy. The net energy improvement of the lower extremities may be due to variation in the kinetic chain resulting from tDCS-enhanced knee exploration force and maximum hip strength in CMJs. The effects of Bi-tDCS gradually decrease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zhiqiang
- School of Kinesiology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Wang Wei
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Tang Yunqi
- College of Art & Design, Shanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi’an 710021, China
| | - Liu Yu
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
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Nakashima S, Koeda M, Ikeda Y, Hama T, Funayama T, Akiyama T, Arakawa R, Tateno A, Suzuki H, Okubo Y. Effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on implicit motor learning and language-related brain function: An fMRI study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2021; 75:200-207. [PMID: 33576537 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIM Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is known as a useful application for improving depressive symptoms or cognitive performance. Antidepressive effects by anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC are expected, but the neural mechanisms of these effects are still unclear. Further, in depression, reduced performance and left prefrontal hypofunction during the verbal fluency task (VFT) are generally known. However, few studies have examined the effect of tDCS on the language-related cerebral network. We aimed to investigate whether anodal tDCS at the left DLPFC affects cognitive performance and the neural basis of verbal fluency. METHODS Nineteen healthy volunteers participated in this study. The effects of tDCS on cognitive behavior and cerebral function were evaluated by (i) performance and accuracy of implicit/explicit motor learning task (serial reaction time task/sequential finger-tapping task), and (ii) cerebral activation while the subjects were performing the VFT by using a functional MRI protocol of a randomized sham-controlled, within-subjects crossover design. RESULTS Reaction times of the implicit motor learning task were significantly faster with tDCS in comparison with the sham. Further, language-related left prefrontal-parahippocampal-parietal activation was significantly less with tDCS compared with the sham. Significant correlation was observed between shortened response time in serial reaction time task and decreased cerebral activation during VFT with tDCS. CONCLUSION Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC could improve cognitive behavior of implicit motor learning by improving brain function of the frontoparietal-parahippocampal region related to motor learning, as well as language-related regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soichiro Nakashima
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michihiko Koeda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumiko Ikeda
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Hama
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Health Science Technology, Bunkyo Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Funayama
- Anesthesiology and Clinical Physiology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomomi Akiyama
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Arakawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Amane Tateno
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Suzuki
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Okubo
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
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Kitazawa H, Hasegawa K, Aruga D, Tanaka M. Potential Genetic Contributions of the Central Nervous System to a Predisposition to Elite Athletic Traits: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030371. [PMID: 33807752 PMCID: PMC8000928 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent remarkable advances in genetic technologies have allowed for the identification of genetic factors potentially related to a predisposition to elite athletic performance. Most of these genetic variants seem to be implicated in musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary functions. Conversely, it remains unclear whether functions of the central nervous system (CNS) genetically contribute to elite athletic traits, although the CNS plays critical roles in exercise performance. Accumulating evidence has highlighted the emerging implications of CNS-related genes in the modulation of brain activities, including mental performance and motor-related traits, thereby potentially contributing to high levels of exercise performance. In this review, recent advances are summarized, and future research directions are discussed in regard to CNS-related genes with potential roles in a predisposition to elite athletic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroya Kitazawa
- Department of Physical Therapy, Health Science University, 7187 Kodachi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0380, Japan; (H.K.); (D.A.)
| | - Kazuya Hasegawa
- Faculty of Nutritional Sciences, Morioka University, 808 Sunakomi, Takizawa City, Iwate 020-0694, Japan;
| | - Daichi Aruga
- Department of Physical Therapy, Health Science University, 7187 Kodachi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0380, Japan; (H.K.); (D.A.)
| | - Masashi Tanaka
- Department of Physical Therapy, Health Science University, 7187 Kodachi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0380, Japan; (H.K.); (D.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-555-83-5200
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Thevis M, Kuuranne T, Geyer H. Annual banned-substance review: Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2019/2020. Drug Test Anal 2020; 13:8-35. [PMID: 33185038 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Analytical chemistry-based research in sports drug testing has been a dynamic endeavor for several decades, with technology-driven innovations continuously contributing to significant improvements in various regards including analytical sensitivity, comprehensiveness of target analytes, differentiation of natural/endogenous substances from structurally identical but synthetically derived compounds, assessment of alternative matrices for doping control purposes, and so forth. The resulting breadth of tools being investigated and developed by anti-doping researchers has allowed to substantially improve anti-doping programs and data interpretation in general. Additionally, these outcomes have been an extremely valuable pledge for routine doping controls during the unprecedented global health crisis that severely affected established sports drug testing strategies. In this edition of the annual banned-substance review, literature on recent developments in anti-doping published between October 2019 and September 2020 is summarized and discussed, particularly focusing on human doping controls and potential applications of new testing strategies to substances and methods of doping specified the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2020 Prohibited List.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Thevis
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Genève and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Hans Geyer
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents, Cologne, Germany
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Bornheim S, Croisier J, Leclercq V, Baude C, Kaux J. Les effets de la stimulation transcrânienne à courant continu (STCC) sur les performances physiques : une revue systématique de la littérature. Sci Sports 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Codella R, Alongi R, Filipas L, Luzi L. Ergogenic Effects of Bihemispheric Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Fitness: a Randomized Cross-over Trial. Int J Sports Med 2020; 42:66-73. [PMID: 32781476 DOI: 10.1055/a-1198-8525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Several types of routines and methods have been experimented to gain neuromuscular advantages, in terms of exercise performance, in athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of biemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation on physical fitness indicators of healthy, physically active, men. In a randomized, single-blinded, crossover fashion, seventeen subjects (age: 30.9 ± 6.5 years, BMI: 24.8±3.1 kg/m2) underwent either stimulation or sham, prior to: vertical jump, sit & reach, and endurance running tests. Mixed repeated measures anova revealed a large main effect of stimulation for any of the three physical fitness measures. Stimulation determined increases of lower limb power (+ 5%), sit & reach amplitude (+ 9%) and endurance running capacity (+ 12%) with respect to sham condition (0.16<ηp2 < 0.41; p<0.05). Ratings-of-perceived-exertion, recorded at the end of each test session, did not change across all performances. However, in the stimulated-endurance protocol, an average lower rate-of-perceived-exertion at iso-time was inferred. A portable transcranial direct current stimulation headset could be a valuable ergogenic resource for individuals seeking to improve physical fitness in daily life or in athletic training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Codella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.,Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosario Alongi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Filipas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.,Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Livio Luzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.,Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
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