Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Exercise duration at maximum oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) appears to be influenced not only by metabolic factors but also by the interplay between brain dynamics and ventilatory regulation. This study examined how cortical activity, assessed via electroencephalography (EEG), relates to performance and acute fatigue regulation during a constant-load cycling test. We hypothesized that oscillatory activity in the theta, alpha, and beta bands would be associated with ventilatory coordination and endurance capacity. Methods: Thirty trained participants performed a cycling test to exhaustion at 90% maximal aerobic power. EEG and gas exchange were continuously recorded; ratings of perceived exertion were assessed immediately after exhaustion. Results: Beta power was negatively correlated with time spent at V˙O2max (r = −0.542, p = 0.002). Theta and Alpha power alone showed no direct associations with endurance, but EEG–metabolic ratios revealed significant correlations. Specifically, the time to reach V˙O2max correlated with Alpha/V˙O2 (p < 0.001), Alpha/V˙CO2 (p < 0.001), and Beta/V˙CO2 (p = 0.002). The time spent at V˙O2max correlated with Theta/V˙O2 (p = 0.002) and Theta/V˙CO2 (p < 0.001). The time-to-exhaustion was correlated with Theta/V˙CO2 (p < 0.001) and Alpha/V˙CO2 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings indicate that cortical oscillations were associated with different aspects of acute fatigue regulation. Beta activity was associated with fatigue-related neural strain, whereas Theta and Alpha bands, when normalized to metabolic load, were consistent with a role in ventilatory coordination and motor control. EEG–metabolic ratios may provide exploratory indicators of brain–metabolism interplay during high-intensity exercise and could help guide future brain-body interactions in endurance performance.
DOI: 10.3390/jfmk10040369
Authors: Luc Poinsard, Christian Berthomier, Michel Clémençon, Marie Brandewinder, Slim Essid, Cécilia Damon, François Rigaud, Alexis Bénichoux, Emmanuel Maby, Lesly Fornoni, Patrick Bouchet, Pascal Van Beers, Bertrand Massot, Patrice Revol, Thomas Creveaux, Christian Collet, Jérémie Mattout, Vincent Pialoux, Véronique Billat
Institutions: Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Laboratoire Activité Physique, Performance et Santé, Mouvement, Equilibre, Performance, Santé, Lyon 1 Université, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Centre d’études des transformations des activités physiques et sportives, Université de Rouen Normandie, Arts et Métiers, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Mines-Télécom, Laboratoire Traitement et Communication de l’Information, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, École Centrale de Lyon, Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, École d'Ingénieurs en Chimie et Sciences du Numérique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Institut Universitaire de France, Université Paris-Saclay, Université d'Évry Val-d'Essonne
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,930
Awards: G1001324542, G2377955790
OpenAlex ID: W4414534453