Pre-stimulus alpha rhythms are correlated with post-stimulus sensorimotor performance in athletes and non-athletes: a high-resolution EEG study.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a pre-stimulus brief (1 min) 10-Hz audio-visual flickering stimulation modulates alpha EEG rhythms and cognitive-motor performance in elite athletes and in non-athletes during visuo-spatial demands.


METHODS
Electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded (56 channels; EB-Neuro) in 14 elite fencing athletes and in 14 non-athletes during visuo-spatial-motor demands (i.e. subjects had to react to pictures of fencing and karate attacks). The task was performed after pre-stimulus 15- (placebo) or 10-Hz (experimental) flickering audio-visual stimulation lasting 1 min and after no stimulation (baseline).


RESULTS
With reference to the baseline condition, only the 10-Hz stimulation induced a negative correlation between pre-stimulus alpha power and reaction time in the fencing athletes and non-athletes as a single group. The higher the enhancement of alpha power before the pictures, the stronger the improvement of the reaction time. The maximum effects were observed in right posterior parietal area (P4 electrode) overlying sensorimotor integrative cortex. Similar results were obtained in a control experiment in which eight elite karate subjects had to react to pictures of karate and basket attacks.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that a preliminary 10-Hz sensory stimulation can modulate EEG alpha rhythms and sensorimotor performance in both elite athletes and non-athletes engaged in visuo-spatial-motor demands.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of the EEG state of sporting experts prior to their performance provides a plausible rationale for the modulation of alpha rhythms to enhance sporting performance in athletes and sensorimotor performance in patients to be rehabilitated.
Del Percio
Claudio
C
Istituto di Medicina e Scienza dello Sport, CONI-Servizi, Via dei Campi Sportivi 46, 00197 Roma, Italy. claudio.delpercio@uniroma1.it
Marzano
Nicola
N
Tilgher
Stefania
S
Fiore
Antonio
A
Di Ciolo
Enrico
E
Aschieri
Pierluigi
P
Lino
Andrea
A
Toràn
Giancarlo
G
Babiloni
Claudio
C
Eusebi
Fabrizio
F
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D013177:Sports