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Neuroinflammation, cortical activity, and fatiguing behaviour during self-paced exercise

  • Neuroscience
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Abstract

The present study aimed to identify whether or not the release of interleukin (IL)-6 and soluble (s) IL-6 receptor (R) is associated with fatiguing behaviour and changes in cortical activity during self-paced exercise. Relationships between the IL-6 and its soluble receptors, total work, reductions in power output, and changes in slow, alpha (α) and fast, beta (β) brain waves during self-paced exercise were evaluated. Different intensities and environments were used to manipulate the release of IL-6, whereby seven active males cycled for 60 min in heat stress (HS) or thermoneutral (TN) environments at a clamped rating of perceived exertion (RPE) equating to low intensity (RPE = 12) or high intensity (RPE = 16). IL-6 and sIL-6R were positively associated with total work, but not with reductions in power output. There was greater α activity in high-intensity conditions, which was associated with the reduction in power output. Both high-intensity conditions appeared to have greater β activity, and there was a positive correlation between β activity and total work and β activity and sIL-6R. We conclude that IL-6 and sIL-6R may contribute to perturbations in cortical activity and are associated with total work output, but reductions in power output are likely influenced greater by other internal and external factors.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Professor Rob Robergs and Associate Professor Jack Cannon for the development of LabView programs to assist in collection and processing of data for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University at Buffalo, 214 Kimball Tower, Buffalo, NY, 14215, USA

    Nicole Vargas

  2. Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia

    Frank Marino

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Correspondence to Nicole Vargas.

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Vargas, N., Marino, F. Neuroinflammation, cortical activity, and fatiguing behaviour during self-paced exercise. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 470, 413–426 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-017-2086-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-017-2086-8

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