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Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Utilizing Electroencephalography Measurements for Comparison of Task-Specific Neural Efficiencies: Spatial Intelligence Tasks
Published on: August 9, 2016
Opposite effects of a time-trial and endurance cycling exercise on the neural efficiency of competitive cyclists
Victor Scholler1,2,3, Alain Groslambert4,5, Thibaud Pirlot4,5
1C3S Laboratory, UPFR Sport, EA4660, C3S Culture Sport Health Society, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 31, Chemin de l'Epitaphe, 25000, Besançon, France. victor.scholler@orange.fr.
Purpose:
Time-trial require cyclists to have an acute control on their sensory cues to regulate their pacing strategies. Pacing an effort accurately requires an individual to process sensory signals with efficacy, a factor that can be characterized by a high neural efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a cycling time-trial on neural efficiency in comparison to a low intensity endurance exercise, the latter supposedly not requiring high sensory control.
Methods:
On two separate days, 13 competitive cyclists performed a session comprising of two 10 min treadmill tests, performed at different intensity zones from 1 to 5 on the rating subjective exercise intensity scale. The tests were performed before and after both a time-trial and endurance cycling exercise. Electroencephalography activity was measured during each intensity zones of the treadmill exercises. Neural efficiency was then calculated for each intensity block using the α/β electroencephalography activity ratio.
Results:
The neural efficiency averaged on the 5 IZ decreased following the time-trial in the motor cortex (- 13 ± 8%) and prefrontal cortex (- 10 ± 12%), but not after the endurance exercise.
Conclusion:
To conclude, the time-trial impaired the neural efficiency and increasing the RPE of the cyclists in the severe intensity zone.
