Long-term physical exercise and somatosensory event-related potentials.

Full Abstract

We have compared the occurrence patterns of somatosensory event-related potentials (ERPs) in athletes (soccer players) and non-athletes. ERPs were elicited by two oddball tasks following separate somatosensory stimulation at the median nerve (upper-limb task) and at the tibial nerve (lower-limb task). In the athlete group the N140 amplitudes were larger during upper- and lower-limb tasks and the P300 amplitude and latency were larger and shorter, respectively, during the lower-limb task compared with non-athletes. On the other hand, no significant differences in the P300 amplitude and latency during the upper-limb task were observed between the athlete and non-athlete groups. These results indicate that plastic changes in somatosensory processing might be induced by performing physical exercises that require attention and skilled movements.

Author information

Author/s: Iwadate, Masako (M); Mori, Akio (A); Ashizuka, Tomoko (T); Takayose, Masaki (M); Ozawa, Toru (T);

Affiliation: College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, 3-25-40 Sakurajosui, Setagaya-ku, 156-0045, Tokyo, Japan. masakoi(-atsign-)chs.nihon-u.ac.jp

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale (Exp Brain Res), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Jan; vol 160 (issue 4) : pp 528-32

Dates: Created 2005/01/14; Completed 2005/06/30; Revised 2008/02/15;

PMID: 15586274, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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