title: Influence of dual-task on postexercise facilitation: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.
abstract: In this study we investigated the effect of a dual task (DT) comprised of a nonfatiguing leg and foot extension coupled with a calculation task on postexercise facilitation (PEF) of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) tested by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Twelve right-handed healthy subjects participated in the study. They were required to perform a motor task, a cognitive task and a DT. The motor task consisted of extending the right leg and foot for 30 sec at 20% of the maximal voluntary contraction. The cognitive task consisted of a 30-sec backward calculation. In the DT condition, motor and cognitive tasks were performed concurrently. Resting motor threshold and 10 MEPs were collected before and immediately after each task. TMS was delivered to the motor hot spot of the right vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Results showed that exercise induced a significant PEF in both VL and TA muscles while calculation was not associated with significant PEF. Furthermore, DT was associated with lack of significant PEF in both muscles (VL, 116.1%±9.6%; TA, 115.7%±9%). Our data indicates DT interference on corticospinal excitability after a nonfatiguing exercise. Our experimental paradigm may be used to address postexercise motor cortex plastic adaptations induced by motor and cognitive tasks of different complexity in sport, aging and neuropsychiatric diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Concerto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Bahaa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anaida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abagyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Carmenrita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Infortuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chusid
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coira
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Sciences & Health Administration, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglia
keywords: Dual task; Exercise; Postexercise facilitation; Transcranial magnetic stimulation