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Determining The Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold Following a Single Visit Exercise Test
Published on: July 27, 2015
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Corticospinal excitability during fatiguing whole body exercise
Joshua C Weavil1, Markus Amann2
1Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City VAMC, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
Progress in Brain Research
|November 5, 2018
Summary
Whole body exercise, like cycling, does not change corticospinal excitability. Instead, opposing neural signals balance out, maintaining motor control during fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Motor Control
Background:
- The corticospinal pathway is crucial for voluntary movement.
- Corticospinal excitability can change during exercise.
- Previous research focused on single-joint movements, with limited studies on whole-body exercise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of fatiguing whole-body exercise on corticospinal pathway excitability.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying changes in corticospinal excitability during such exercise.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining corticospinal excitability during whole-body exercise (e.g., cycling, rowing).
- Analysis of methodologies and findings across different studies.
- Focus on the interplay of excitatory and inhibitory influences.
Main Results:
- Net corticospinal excitability appears unchanged during fatiguing whole-body exercise.
- This stability results from a balance between excitatory and inhibitory processes.
- Group III/IV afferent feedback from muscles likely plays a key role.
Conclusions:
- Fatiguing whole-body exercise does not alter overall corticospinal excitability.
- Changes are masked by a counterbalance of neural influences.
- Afferent feedback is a significant mediator of these adaptations.
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