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

This study aimed to investigate cortical functional changes during progressive fatigue among athletes from different training backgrounds to elucidate distinct neural modulation patterns associated with various exercise types.

Ninety-six male participants were recruited and assigned to four groups (n = 24 per group): the open-skill training group (OTG), endurance training group (ETG), resistance training group (RTG), and control group (CG) comprising individuals without specialized training.

Maximal oxygen uptake test results showed that the OTG and ETG exhibited significantly higher values than the RTG and CG. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis revealed that the OTG demonstrated superior autonomic regulation compared with the other three groups, whereas both ETG and RTG showed higher HRV than the CG. In the motor cortex (MC), oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration was significantly higher in the OTG than in the RTG and CG and higher in the ETG compared with the CG. Total hemoglobin (HbT) in the MC was greater in the OTG than in the ETG, RTG, and CG and higher in the ETG compared with the CG. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), HbO was higher in the OTG than in the ETG, RTG, and CG, whereas both the ETG and RTG showed higher values than the CG. Similarly, the HbT of PFC in the OTG was greater than in the ETG and CG, with ETG and RTG both higher than CG. Functional connectivity (FC) between the PFC and MC was stronger in the OTG, ETG, and RTG than in the CG. Across all groups, HbO, HbT, and FC increased with rising perceived exertion and declined at maximal fatigue.

This cross-sectional study reveals that a long-term specialized training background is associated with distinct central nervous system phenotypes. Open-skill athletes showed higher cortical-autonomic coordination and cognitive-motor integration under progressive fatigue, which is consistent with differences in neurovascular characteristics and resource allocation patterns.