Resting state cortical rhythms in athletes: a high-resolution EEG study

Brain Res Bull. 2010 Jan 15;81(1):149-56. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2009.10.014.

Abstract

The present electroencephalographic (EEG) study tested the working hypothesis that the amplitude of resting state cortical EEG rhythms (especially alpha, 8-12 Hz) was higher in elite athletes compared with amateur athletes and non-athletes, as a reflection of the efficiency of underlying back-ground neural synchronization mechanisms. Eyes closed resting state EEG data were recorded in 16 elite karate athletes, 20 amateur karate athletes, and 25 non-athletes. The EEG rhythms of interest were delta (2-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha 1 (8-10.5 Hz), alpha 2 (10.5-13 Hz), beta 1 (13-20 Hz), and beta 2 (20-30 Hz). EEG cortical sources were estimated by low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Statistical results showed that the amplitude of parietal and occipital alpha 1 sources was significantly higher in the elite karate athletes than in the non-athletes and karate amateur athletes. Similar results were observed in parietal and occipital delta sources as well as in occipital theta sources. Finally, a control confirmatory experiment showed that the amplitude of parietal and occipital delta and alpha 1 sources was stronger in 8 elite rhythmic gymnasts compared with 14 non-athletes. These results supported the hypothesis that cortical neural synchronization at the basis of eyes-closed resting state EEG rhythms is enhanced in elite athletes than in control subjects.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Athletes*
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Gymnastics / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Martial Arts / physiology
  • Rest / physiology*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Tomography
  • Young Adult