Clinical trial NCT04734808: EEG Brain Activity At Various Cycling Intensities
Official title: EEG Brain Activity During A Progressive Cycling Protocol
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Keywords: EEG
Brain Imaging
Brain Waves
Cycling
Intensity
Lead sponsor: Science and Research Centre Koper
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: University Maribor
name: University of Geneva, Switzerland
First posted: 2021-02-02
Enrollment: 20
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 22
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to investigate brain activity with EEG during incremental cycling at various cycling intensities.

Detailed description: Increases in EEG power spectra have been found during graded cycling to fatigue linking brain activity to exercise intensity. Additionally, to the activation of the classical motor control regions (e.g.: motor, somatosensory, premotor and supplementary motor cortices and cerebellum), the activation of the regions associated with autonomic regulation (i.e.: insular cortex) during exercise, as well as reduced activation of cognitive-related areas (i.e.: prefrontal cortex), an effect that increased at higher perceived intensities of cycling has been observed.

Furthermore, the precentral gyrus and cerebellar vermis, as well as brain areas (e.g.: posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and precuneus) have been associated with higher levels of perceived exertion as well. Although the results were assessed sing a specially designed compatible fMRI cycling ergometer (Fontes et al., 2020), due to which the brain imaging techniques were limited to static (and horizontal) measurement conditions during cycling, we believe that the present study clearly distinguishes between claims proposed by different theoretical frameworks on brain responses during exercise.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the brain activity with EEG during the same incremental protocol, which will allow us to investigate the functioning of surface electrocortical activation patterns during progressive cycling exercise. Furthermore, using the advanced brain image analysis (machine learning techniques and standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography - sLORETA) helped us determine the frequency spectrum of brain activity in the same brain areas.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Heathy and recreationaly active men
* No significant muscular, skeleton or nervous system damage
* Cycloergometry test (positive)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Nervous system disorders
* Cardiovascular disorders (e.g.: high blood pressure, arrhythmia...)
* Asthma

Primary outcomes:
measure: Beta band suppression
timeFrame: During the intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Brain mapping
timeFrame: During the intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Maribor
country: Slovenia
facility: University of Maribor
Study officials:
References:
citation: Bailey SP, Hall EE, Folger SE, Miller PC. Changes in EEG during graded exercise on a recumbent cycle ergometer. J Sports Sci Med. 2008 Dec 1;7(4):505-11. eCollection 2008.
citation: Fontes EB, Bortolotti H, Grandjean da Costa K, Machado de Campos B, Castanho GK, Hohl R, Noakes T, Min LL. Modulation of cortical and subcortical brain areas at low and high exercise intensities. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Jan;54(2):110-115. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100295. Epub 2019 Aug 16.
citation: Fontes EB, Okano AH, De Guio F, Schabort EJ, Min LL, Basset FA, Stein DJ, Noakes TD. Brain activity and perceived exertion during cycling exercise: an fMRI study. Br J Sports Med. 2015 Apr;49(8):556-60. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091924. Epub 2013 Jun 1.
citation: Enders H, Cortese F, Maurer C, Baltich J, Protzner AB, Nigg BM. Changes in cortical activity measured with EEG during a high-intensity cycling exercise. J Neurophysiol. 2016 Jan 1;115(1):379-88. doi: 10.1152/jn.00497.2015. Epub 2015 Nov 4.