Dynamic Changes in Cortical Activation Patterns During Incremental Load Among Athletes of Different Sports Types

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Understanding how different training backgrounds affect the brain during fatigue is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and recovery.
• Previous research has explored fatigue mechanisms, but distinct neural modulation patterns across various athletic disciplines remain less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cortical functional changes during progressive fatigue in athletes from diverse training backgrounds.
• To elucidate distinct neural modulation patterns associated with open-skill, endurance, and resistance training compared to a control group.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-six male participants were divided into four groups: open-skill training (OTG), endurance training (ETG), resistance training (RTG), and a control group (CG).
• Maximal oxygen uptake, heart rate variability (HRV), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) and total hemoglobin (HbT) in the motor cortex (MC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were assessed.
• Functional connectivity (FC) between PFC and MC was analyzed.

Main Results:

• OTG and ETG had higher maximal oxygen uptake than RTG and CG. OTG showed superior autonomic regulation (HRV).
• Cortical activation (HbO, HbT) in MC and PFC was generally higher in OTG and ETG compared to RTG and CG, with OTG showing the most pronounced effects.
• Functional connectivity between PFC and MC was stronger in all trained groups (OTG, ETG, RTG) than in the CG. All measured parameters (HbO, HbT, FC) increased with exertion and decreased at maximal fatigue.

Conclusions:

• Long-term specialized training leads to distinct central nervous system phenotypes.
• Open-skill athletes demonstrate enhanced cortical-autonomic coordination and cognitive-motor integration under fatigue, linked to unique neurovascular characteristics and resource allocation.