TY - JOUR
T1 - Visual event-related potentials in elite and amateur athletes
AU - Del Percio, Claudio
AU - Brancucci, Alfredo
AU - Vecchio, Fabrizio
AU - Marzano, Nicola
AU - Pirritano, Mirella
AU - Meccariello, Elena
AU - Padoa, Sabina
AU - Mascia, Addolorata
AU - Giallonardo, Anna T.
AU - Aschieri, Pierluigi
AU - Lino, Andrea
AU - Palma, Eleonora
AU - Fiore, Antonio
AU - Di Ciolo, Enrico
AU - Babiloni, Claudio
AU - Eusebi, Fabrizio
PY - 2007/9/14
Y1 - 2007/9/14
N2 - In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the neural synchronization estimated in visual cortex during visuo-spatial demands shows different features in elite karate athletes when compared to amateur karate athletes and non-athletes. EEG recordings (56 channels; EB-Neuro) were performed from 17 elite karate athletes, 14 amateur karate athletes, and 15 non-athletes, during the observation of pictures with basket and karate attacks. They clicked a right (left) keyboard button for basket or karate attacks at right (left) monitor side. Results pointed to no difference of late occipital VEPs/ERPs after basket versus karate attacks in the non-athletes (300-800 ms post-stimulus). In the amateur karate athletes, occipital VEPs/ERPs at 300-450 ms post-stimulus (P3-P4 components) were lower in amplitude for the karate than basket attacks. In the elite karate athletes, the occipital VEPs/ERPs further declined in amplitude at 300-450 ms post-stimulus (P3 and P4 components) and enhanced at about 800 ms post-stimulus ("N2" component) for the karate than basket attacks. A control study showed that in 10 elite fencers, the same was true for the fencing compared to the karate attacks. These results support the hypothesis that peculiar mechanisms of occipital neural synchronization can be observed in elite athletes during visuo-spatial demands, possibly to underlie sustained visuo-spatial attention and self-control.
AB - In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the neural synchronization estimated in visual cortex during visuo-spatial demands shows different features in elite karate athletes when compared to amateur karate athletes and non-athletes. EEG recordings (56 channels; EB-Neuro) were performed from 17 elite karate athletes, 14 amateur karate athletes, and 15 non-athletes, during the observation of pictures with basket and karate attacks. They clicked a right (left) keyboard button for basket or karate attacks at right (left) monitor side. Results pointed to no difference of late occipital VEPs/ERPs after basket versus karate attacks in the non-athletes (300-800 ms post-stimulus). In the amateur karate athletes, occipital VEPs/ERPs at 300-450 ms post-stimulus (P3-P4 components) were lower in amplitude for the karate than basket attacks. In the elite karate athletes, the occipital VEPs/ERPs further declined in amplitude at 300-450 ms post-stimulus (P3 and P4 components) and enhanced at about 800 ms post-stimulus ("N2" component) for the karate than basket attacks. A control study showed that in 10 elite fencers, the same was true for the fencing compared to the karate attacks. These results support the hypothesis that peculiar mechanisms of occipital neural synchronization can be observed in elite athletes during visuo-spatial demands, possibly to underlie sustained visuo-spatial attention and self-control.
KW - Elite athletes
KW - Sport science
KW - Visual evoked potentials (VEPs)/Event related potentials (ERPs)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547569121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34547569121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.05.011
DO - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.05.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 17683795
AN - SCOPUS:34547569121
VL - 74
SP - 104
EP - 112
JO - Brain Research Bulletin
JF - Brain Research Bulletin
SN - 0361-9230
IS - 1-3
ER -