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

Alexandre Hideki Okano; Daniel Gomes Silva Machado; Leônidas Oliveira Neto; Luiz Fernando Farias-Junior; Pedro Moraes Dutra Agrícola; Ademir Arruda; André Igor Fonteles; Li Min Li; Eduardo B. Fontes; Hassan Mohamed Elsangedy; Alexandre Moreira

doi:10.1055/s-0042-121897

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(07): 493-500
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-121897

Physiology & Biochemistry

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

Authors

Alexandre Hideki Okano

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Daniel Gomes Silva Machado

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

²Department of Physical Education, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Leônidas Oliveira Neto

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Luiz Fernando Farias-Junior

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Pedro Moraes Dutra Agrícola

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

⁵Department of Physical Education, Faculty Maurício de Nassau. Natal, RN. Brazil
Ademir Arruda

³Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
André Igor Fonteles

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Li Min Li

⁴Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Eduardo B. Fontes

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Hassan Mohamed Elsangedy

¹Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Alexandre Moreira

³Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

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 (%HR_max 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

Full Text

References

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