Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on time limit and ratings of perceived exertion in physically active women

Publication date: 1 January 2018 Source:Neuroscience Letters, Volume 662 Author(s): Eduardo Lattari, Bruno Soares de Oliveira, Bruno Ribeiro Ramalho Oliveira, Rodrigo Cunha de Mello Pedreiro, Sérgio Machado, Geraldo Albuquerque Maranhão Neto The limiting factors of maximum performance in humans have been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the acute effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on time limit (i.e., the time by which an individual is able to sustain a certain intensity of effort) at 100% of peak power (tlim@100%PP) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Eleven moderately active women underwent an anthropometric evaluation and a maximal incremental test in the cycle ergometer, in order to obtain peak power (PP). At the two subsequent visits, which were separated by 48–72h, participants were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: anodal stimulation (a-tDCS) and sham. In the a-tDCS condition, the stimulus was applied in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with intensity of 2mA for 20min. In the sham condition, the equipment was switched off after 30s of stimulation. Immediately after the conditions, participants performed the tlim@100%PP. Immediately after the tlim@100%PP test, the RPE scale was applied. The results demonstrated that the tlim@100%PP was higher in a-tDCS condition compared to sham condition (p =0.005). No difference was found between the conditions (a-tDCS vs sham) for the RPE (p...
Source: Neuroscience Letters - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research