Effect of muscle fatigue on brain activity in healthy individuals

Fatigue is affected by both peripheral and central factors. However, the interrelationship between muscle fatigue and brain activity has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to clarify the effect of muscle fatigue due to sustained pinch movement on brain activity in healthy individuals using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Ten healthy adults participated in the study. Pinch movement of isometric contraction was the task to be performed, and electromyogram of the first dorsal interosseous muscle and brain activity by fNIRS were measured in this period. The median power frequency (MdPF) was calculated as an index of muscle fatigue and the oxygen-Hb value in the bilateral premotor and motor areas was calculated as an index of brain activity. As a result, MdPF showed a significant decrease in the middle and later phases compared with that in the early phase (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively) and a significant decrease in the later phase compared with that in the middle phase (p < 0.05). The oxygen-Hb values in the motor cortex were not significantly different between the analysis sections. The oxygen-Hb values in the premotor cortex was significantly increased in the later phase (p < 0.05) compared with that in the early phase. The premotor cortex was found to be specifically activated during muscle fatigue.