A1 Journal article (refereed)
Associations of physical fitness with cortical inhibition and excitation in adolescents and young adults (2024)


Skog, H. M., Määttä, S., Säisänen, L., Lakka, T. A., & Haapala, E. A. (2024). Associations of physical fitness with cortical inhibition and excitation in adolescents and young adults. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, Article 1297009. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1297009


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Skog, Hanna Mari; Määttä, Sara; Säisänen, Laura; Lakka, Timo A.; Haapala, Eero A.

Journal or series: Frontiers in Neuroscience

ISSN: 1662-4548

eISSN: 1662-453X

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 29/04/2024

Volume: 18

Article number: 1297009

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1297009

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/95211

Publication is parallel published: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11090042/


Abstract

Objective: We investigated the longitudinal associations of cumulative motor fitness, muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) from childhood to adolescence with cortical excitability and inhibition in adolescence. The other objective was to determine cross-sectional associations of motor fitness and muscular strength with brain function in adolescence.

Methods: In 45 healthy adolescents (25 girls and 20 boys) aged 16–19 years, we assessed cortical excitability and inhibition by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS), and motor fitness by 50-m shuttle run test and Box and block test, and muscular strength by standing long jump test. These measures of physical fitness and CRF by maximal exercise were assessed also at the ages 7–9, 9–11, and 15–17 years. Cumulative measures of physical measures were computed by summing up sample-specific z-scores at ages 7–9, 9–11, and 15–17 years.

Results: Higher cumulative motor fitness performance from childhood to adolescence was associated with lower right hemisphere resting motor threshold (rMT), lower silent period threshold (SPt), and lower motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude in boys. Better childhood-to-adolescence cumulative CRF was also associated with longer silent period (SP) duration in boys and higher MEP amplitude in girls. Cross-sectionally in adolescence, better motor fitness and better muscular strength were associated with lower left and right rMT among boys and better motor fitness was associated with higher MEP amplitude and better muscular strength with lower SPt among girls.

Conclusion: Physical fitness from childhood to adolescence modifies cortical excitability and inhibition in adolescence. Motor fitness and muscular strength were associated with motor cortical excitability and inhibition. The associations were selective for specific TMS indices and findings were sex-dependent.


Keywords: physical fitness; young people; coordination (motor functions); muscle fitness; aerobic capacity; neurons; stimulation; longitudinal research

Free keywords: transcranial magnetic stimulation; motor threshold; motor fitness; muscular strength; adolescence


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-15-06 at 21:06