Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Does Not Affect Sports People's Explosive Power: A Pilot Study
Andreina Giustiniani1,2,3, Giuseppe Battaglia3, Giuseppe Messina3
1IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|May 17, 2021
Summary
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at gamma frequency did not enhance explosive power in athletes. Genetic background also did not influence the effects of this non-invasive brain stimulation technique on sport performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Science
- Genetics
Background:
- Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques like transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) are explored for performance enhancement.
- The influence of genetic factors on responses to NIBS in athletes remains largely uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preliminary effects of 50 Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on explosive power in sports subjects.
- To explore whether genetic background modulates the impact of tACS on athletic performance.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen healthy athletes underwent familiarization, followed by either 50 Hz-tACS or sham-tACS.
- Multiple explosive power tests (jumps, throws, hand-grip) were performed pre- and post-stimulation.
- Saliva samples were collected for genotyping analysis via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Main Results:
- No significant improvements in any explosive power tests were observed after 50 Hz-tACS.
- No influence of genetic background on the tACS-related effects on physical performance was detected.
- Gamma frequency tACS applied before exercise did not appear to modulate sport performance.
Conclusions:
- Gamma frequency tACS, as applied in this study, does not enhance explosive power in sports subjects.
- Further research with larger cohorts is necessary to fully understand the role of NIBS in motor performance and potential genetic interactions.
