293
Visual Evoked Potentials: Differences Related to Physical Activity E. Delpont' , C. Dolisi1 , G. Suisse1 , G. Bodino1 ,
M Gastaud2
'Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux, Hôpital Pasteur, 30 Av. de Ia Voie Romaine, 06002 Nice, France 2Laboratoire de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Chemin de Vallombrose, 06034 Nice, France
E. Delpont, C. Dolisi, G. Suisse, G. Bodino and M. Gastaud, Visual Evoked Potentials: Differences Related to Physical Activity. Tnt J Sports Med, Vol 12, No 3, pp293 — 298, 1991.
Accepted after revision: August 29, 1990
Visually evoked potentials to patterned stimuli were recorded from tennis players, rowers and nonathlete control subjects. Each group consisted of 12 males and 12 females of similar age.
Tennis players showed shorter P100 latencies compared to those of control subjects and rowers. This difference exists, in the same range, both in the males and in the females.
The analysis of covariance and multiple linear regressions show that these shorter latencies cannot be explained by head circumference or by height. The hypothesis of a relationship between these shorter latencies and the specific qualities of racket players is suggested.
A second experiment with squash players seems to confirm these first results.
Key words
Visual Evoked Potentials, gender, physical activity
well-established by many studies (14, 16, 19, 28). Other factors such as age (2, 3,27) and head circumference (14, 28) were also
explored, and for the factor age, many regressions have been proposed (9, 16, 27). The knowledge of factors that can induce variations in the values of VEPs waves in normal subjects is necessary for a good interpretation of the results in neurology and, still in a more pronounced way, in neuropsychobiology. Indeed, the lower the unexplained variance of the results of an investigation is, the more potentially sensitive this investigation becomes and, thus, the more informative in the field of the neurobiology it is.
Nowadays, all the factors of variations that have been identified in normal subjects are bioanthropometric factors (10) and, as far as we know, possible influence on VEPs of such a factor as physical activity has not been studied. However, this factor is strongly linked with a decrease of visual and auditory reaction times (5, 6, 21, 25). Since VEPs measure the
duration of the initial stage of the reaction time to a visual stimulus, it seemed interesting to us to investigate whether systematic variations of the main parameters of VEPs can be observed (1) between sedentary subjects and subjects with intensive physical activity, and (2) between subjects practising dif-
ferent types of physical activities characterized by different levels of sensorimotor coordination. Materials and Methods — First Experiment
Subjects Six groups of subjects were examined: two groups of control subjects, 12 males (16—27 years old) and 12 females (19—26 years old), two groups of tennis players, 12
Introduction
males (16—28 years old) and 12 females (16—29 years old), and
Since the use of pattern reversal stimulation
females (16—28 years old). The tennis players were all 2nd or 3rd series (French classification). The rowers regularly partici-
(11), Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) recording has become a
well-standardized clinical investigation. Many authors have shown the usefulness of these recordings as a means of exploration of the optic nerves (15, 17) and of the brain (8,29).
Int.J. SportsMed. 12(1991)293—298 Georgmieme Verlag Stuttgart New York
two groups of rowers, 12 males (17—27 years old) and 12 pated in regional or national competitions. The control subjects were characterized by the lack of regular physical training. Informed consent was obtained from the subjects. Each subject's height and head circumference were measured, also the years of practice, the number of training hours per week,
and the intervals (hours) since the last training were noted
Downloaded by: Universite Laval. Copyrighted material.
Abstract
At the same time, many studies have been undertaken investigating physiological factors of variations of the main waves of the VEPs. Gender influence on latencies and amplitudes of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) has been
E. Dc/pont, C. Dolisi, G. Suisse, G. Bodino, M. Gastaud
mt. J. Sports Med. 12(1991)
Table 1 Analysis of variance of bioanthropometric and physical training data. Twelve subjects in each group. Degree of freedom: for lines 1 to 3, 1 and 66 for gender, 2 and 66 for physical activity and interaction; for lines 4 to 6, 1 and 44 for gender, physical activity and interaction. = p < 0.001 '=p
Visual Evoked Potentials: Differences Related to Physical Activity E. Delpont' , C. Dolisi1 , G. Suisse1 , G. Bodino1 ,
M Gastaud2
'Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux, Hôpital Pasteur, 30 Av. de Ia Voie Romaine, 06002 Nice, France 2Laboratoire de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Chemin de Vallombrose, 06034 Nice, France
E. Delpont, C. Dolisi, G. Suisse, G. Bodino and M. Gastaud, Visual Evoked Potentials: Differences Related to Physical Activity. Tnt J Sports Med, Vol 12, No 3, pp293 — 298, 1991.
Accepted after revision: August 29, 1990
Visually evoked potentials to patterned stimuli were recorded from tennis players, rowers and nonathlete control subjects. Each group consisted of 12 males and 12 females of similar age.
Tennis players showed shorter P100 latencies compared to those of control subjects and rowers. This difference exists, in the same range, both in the males and in the females.
The analysis of covariance and multiple linear regressions show that these shorter latencies cannot be explained by head circumference or by height. The hypothesis of a relationship between these shorter latencies and the specific qualities of racket players is suggested.
A second experiment with squash players seems to confirm these first results.
Key words
Visual Evoked Potentials, gender, physical activity
well-established by many studies (14, 16, 19, 28). Other factors such as age (2, 3,27) and head circumference (14, 28) were also
explored, and for the factor age, many regressions have been proposed (9, 16, 27). The knowledge of factors that can induce variations in the values of VEPs waves in normal subjects is necessary for a good interpretation of the results in neurology and, still in a more pronounced way, in neuropsychobiology. Indeed, the lower the unexplained variance of the results of an investigation is, the more potentially sensitive this investigation becomes and, thus, the more informative in the field of the neurobiology it is.
Nowadays, all the factors of variations that have been identified in normal subjects are bioanthropometric factors (10) and, as far as we know, possible influence on VEPs of such a factor as physical activity has not been studied. However, this factor is strongly linked with a decrease of visual and auditory reaction times (5, 6, 21, 25). Since VEPs measure the
duration of the initial stage of the reaction time to a visual stimulus, it seemed interesting to us to investigate whether systematic variations of the main parameters of VEPs can be observed (1) between sedentary subjects and subjects with intensive physical activity, and (2) between subjects practising dif-
ferent types of physical activities characterized by different levels of sensorimotor coordination. Materials and Methods — First Experiment
Subjects Six groups of subjects were examined: two groups of control subjects, 12 males (16—27 years old) and 12 females (19—26 years old), two groups of tennis players, 12
Introduction
males (16—28 years old) and 12 females (16—29 years old), and
Since the use of pattern reversal stimulation
females (16—28 years old). The tennis players were all 2nd or 3rd series (French classification). The rowers regularly partici-
(11), Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) recording has become a
well-standardized clinical investigation. Many authors have shown the usefulness of these recordings as a means of exploration of the optic nerves (15, 17) and of the brain (8,29).
Int.J. SportsMed. 12(1991)293—298 Georgmieme Verlag Stuttgart New York
two groups of rowers, 12 males (17—27 years old) and 12 pated in regional or national competitions. The control subjects were characterized by the lack of regular physical training. Informed consent was obtained from the subjects. Each subject's height and head circumference were measured, also the years of practice, the number of training hours per week,
and the intervals (hours) since the last training were noted
Downloaded by: Universite Laval. Copyrighted material.
Abstract
At the same time, many studies have been undertaken investigating physiological factors of variations of the main waves of the VEPs. Gender influence on latencies and amplitudes of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) has been
E. Dc/pont, C. Dolisi, G. Suisse, G. Bodino, M. Gastaud
mt. J. Sports Med. 12(1991)
Table 1 Analysis of variance of bioanthropometric and physical training data. Twelve subjects in each group. Degree of freedom: for lines 1 to 3, 1 and 66 for gender, 2 and 66 for physical activity and interaction; for lines 4 to 6, 1 and 44 for gender, physical activity and interaction. = p < 0.001 '=p
