Friday, December 5, 2014

Elite Kenyan runners show greater brain oxygenation during 5km time-trials

 "It has been observed that, when cerebral oxygenation in the prefrontal lobule falls, the neural activity in this zone also drops. This zone is closely linked to the control of movement and to decision-making, and it has thus been put forward that this reduction in neuronal activity may explain the drop in performance observed amongst European athletes, on cerebral oxygenation reducing. Given that, with the Kenyan athletes, this reduction does not occur, "we believe that the neuronal activation in the prefrontal lobule is not compromised and perhaps this capacity of maintaining their cerebral oxygenation in a stable way may contribute to their great performance in long-distance trials," explained the UPV/EHU teacher."
The finding supports others that describe brain-based exercise fatigue. Interesting stuff.

The full press-release can be read here, and the original study's abstract here.

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