title: Long-term physical exercise and somatosensory event-related potentials.
abstract: We have compared the occurrence patterns of somatosensory event-related potentials (ERPs) in athletes (soccer players) and non-athletes. ERPs were elicited by two oddball tasks following separate somatosensory stimulation at the median nerve (upper-limb task) and at the tibial nerve (lower-limb task). In the athlete group the N140 amplitudes were larger during upper- and lower-limb tasks and the P300 amplitude and latency were larger and shorter, respectively, during the lower-limb task compared with non-athletes. On the other hand, no significant differences in the P300 amplitude and latency during the upper-limb task were observed between the athlete and non-athlete groups. These results indicate that plastic changes in somatosensory processing might be induced by performing physical exercises that require attention and skilled movements.
authors.affiliation: College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, 3-25-40 Sakurajosui, Setagaya-ku, 156-0045, Tokyo, Japan. masakoi@chs.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwadate
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ashizuka
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayose
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors