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Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(07): 493-500
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-121897
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulate Psychophysiological Response in Sedentary Men during Vigorous Aerobic Exercise?

Alexandre Hideki Okano
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
,
Daniel Gomes Silva Machado
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
2   Department of Physical Education, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
,
Leônidas Oliveira Neto
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
,
Luiz Fernando Farias-Junior
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
,
Pedro Moraes Dutra Agrícola
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
5   Department of Physical Education, Faculty Maurício de Nassau. Natal, RN. Brazil
,
Ademir Arruda
3   Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
André Igor Fonteles
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
,
Li Min Li
4   Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Eduardo B. Fontes
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
,
Hassan Mohamed Elsangedy
1   Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
,
Alexandre Moreira
3   Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 10 November 2016

Publication Date:
17 May 2017 (online)

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Abstract

This study evaluated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could change physiological and psychological responses during vigorous exercise with a constant load. 13 sedentary males (23.0±4.2 years; 25.6±4.2 kg/m²) took part in this randomized, crossed-over, sham-controlled, and double-blinded study. Participants underwent 2 sessions with anodal or sham tDCS (2 mA, 20 min) applied before exercise over the left temporal cortex targeting the left insular cortex. The exercise was performed at vigorous intensity (%HRmax 81.68±6.37) for 30 min. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and affective responses (pleasure/displeasure) were recorded at every 5 min. Additionally, heart rate variability (HRV) was measured before, immediately after and 60 min after the end of exercise. A 2-way repeated measure ANOVA showed that tDCS improved HRV neither at rest nor after exercise (p>0.15). Similarly, HR, RPE, and affective responses were not enhanced by tDCS during vigorous exercise (p>0.23). The findings of this study suggest that tCDS does not modulate either HRV at rest nor HR, RPE and affective responses during exercise. Transcranial direct current stimulation’s efficiency might depend on the participants’ levels of physical fitness and parameters of stimulation (e. g., duration, intensity, and arrangement of electrodes).

Key words

brain stimulation - neuromodulation - affect - autonomic nervous system - exercise - psychophysiology
 

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