Effects of induced fatigue on brain activity during sensorimotor control

The aim of this study was to study if accuracy in sensorimotor control and cortical activity was influenced after induced fatigue during a knee joint reproduction task. Twelve volunteers performed a sensorimotor task before, directly after and 60 min after a prolonged exhaustive exercise protocol. The task consisted of an active reproduction of a target knee angle. After three practice trials, visual feedback was taken and the task was performed for 10 repetitions at a suitable pace. Reproduction accuracy was analyzed and EEG raw data were obtained from the frontal, central, temporal, parietal and occipital scalp locations during the task. The average power spectra in theta and alpha frequencies were computed across conditions for each participant. Task accuracy decreases significantly related to fatigue and increases after recovery. This is accompanied by a significant decrease in frontal theta, alpha-1 and alpha-2 frequencies after inducing fatigue. The power values in all frequency bands recovered after 60 min. Sensorimotor control was influenced by induced fatigue, which could be demonstrated in behavior and brain activity. Characteristics of brain activity demonstrated an increase in theta and a decrease in alpha-1 and alpha-2 frequency band power. The changes were discussed related to attentional recourses, alertness and somatosensory information processing mechanisms.