Abstract
Shorter sensory-motor reaction times have been reported in athletes compared with
sedentary subjects. Previous results have shown significantly shorter visual evoked
potentials (VEPs) latencies in a group of tennis players, but there was no difference
between a group of rowers and control subjects. In the present study, the same groups
were investigated in order to establish whether similar differences could be found
in relation to brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). Waves I to V latencies
(Ls), interpeak latencies (IPLs) and wave amplitudes were measured. The results showed
great differences related to gender. The I-III IPL was shorter in the females than
in the males. Differences were also found in relation to physical activity. The most
important feature was the significantly shorter III-V IPL observed in the rowers and
in the tennis players of both genders observed in the rowers and in the compared with
sedentary control subjects. In the males these differences were linked to training
factors. Therefore, unlike VEPs which seemed to be linked to sports requiring high
visual acuity, BAEPs seemed to be linked more widely to top-class physical activity
and not to specific sensory aptitude. It was hypothesized that the shorter III-VIPL
might be due to shorter synaptic transmission time in the superior olivary complex.
Key words
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials - gender - physical activity
