Effects of high vs. low cadence training on cyclists' brain cortical activity during exercise.
OBJECTIVE
As brain cortical activity depends on cadence, exercise at different pedaling frequencies could provide efficient stimuli for functional adaptations of the brain. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of cadence-specific training on brain cortical activity as well as endurance performance.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled experimental trial in a repeated measure design.


METHODS
Male (n=24) and female (n=12) cyclists were randomly assigned to either a high cadence group (HCT), a low cadence group (LCT) or a control group (CON) for a 4 week intervention period. All groups performed 4h of basic endurance training per week. Additionally, HCT and LCT completed four cadence-specific 60min sessions weekly. At baseline and after 4 weeks subjects performed an incremental test with spirometry as well as an interval session (constant load; varying cadences) with continuous recording of electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms.


RESULTS
In contrast to CON, HCT and LCT elicited similar improvements of maximal oxygen uptake and power at the individual anaerobic threshold. Additionally, there was a reduction of alpha-, beta- and overall-power spectral density in HCT, which was more pronounced at high cadences. Improvements of endurance performance were correlated with reductions of EEG spectral power at 90 and 120rpm.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas high and low cadence training elicit similar improvements in endurance performance, brain cortical activity is especially sensitive to high cadence training. Its reduction can be interpreted in the sense of the neural efficiency hypothesis and might as well influence the sensation of central fatigue positively.
Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Performance Diagnostics and Health Promotion, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Electronic address: sebastian.ludyga@unibas.ch.
Sebastian
S
Ludyga
Institute of Performance Diagnostics and Health Promotion, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany; Department of Sport Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Electronic address: thomas.gronwald@sport.uni-halle.de.
Thomas
T
Gronwald
Institute of Performance Diagnostics and Health Promotion, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany; Department of Sport Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Electronic address: kuno.hottenrott@sport.uni-halle.de.
Kuno
K
Hottenrott
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance
Aerobic power; Brain cortical activity; Cadence; EEG; Training