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Abstract: “Neural efficiency” hypothesis posits that cortical activity is spatially focused in experts. Here we tested the hypothesis that compared to non-athletes, elite athletes are characterized by a reduced cortical activation during visuo-motor tasks related to the field of expertise, as a function of movement side. EEG data (56 channels; EB-Neuro) were continuously recorded in the following right-handed subjects: 11 non-athletes, 11 elite fencing athletes, and 11 elite karate athletes. During the EEG recordings, they observed pictures with fencing and karate attacks, and had to quickly click a right (left) keyboard button for the attacks at right (left) monitor side. The EEG data were averaged with respect to the movement onset, and were spatially enhanced by surface Laplacian estimation. The potentials related to the preparation (readiness potential) and initiation (motor potential) of the movements were measured. For the right movement, the potentials overlying supplementary motor and contralateral sensorimotor areas were higher in amplitude in the non-athletes than in the elite karate and fencing athletes. Furthermore, the amplitude of the motor potential over ipsilateral sensorimotor area was higher in the elite karate than fencing athletes, and its distribution over bilateral sensorimotor areas was less asymmetrical in the karate than in the other two groups. For the left movement, these potentials showed no difference between the groups. The present results suggest that “neural efficiency” hypothesis does not fully account for the organization of motor systems in elite athletes. “Neural efficiency” would depend on several factors including side of the movement, hemisphere, and kind of athletes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the neural synchronization estimated in visual cortex during visuo-spatial demands shows different features in elite karate athletes when compared to amateur karate athletes and non-athletes. EEG recordings (56 channels; EB-Neuro) were performed from 17 elite karate athletes, 14 amateur karate athletes, and 15 non-athletes, during the observation of pictures with basket and karate attacks. They clicked a right (left) keyboard button for basket or karate attacks at right (left) monitor side. Results pointed to no difference of late occipital VEPs/ERPs after basket versus karate attacks in the non-athletes (300–800ms post-stimulus). In the amateur karate athletes, occipital VEPs/ERPs at 300–450ms post-stimulus (P3–P4 components) were lower in amplitude for the karate than basket attacks. In the elite karate athletes, the occipital VEPs/ERPs further declined in amplitude at 300–450ms post-stimulus (P3 and P4 components) and enhanced at about 800ms post-stimulus (“N2” component) for the karate than basket attacks. A control study showed that in 10 elite fencers, the same was true for the fencing compared to the karate attacks. These results support the hypothesis that peculiar mechanisms of occipital neural synchronization can be observed in elite athletes during visuo-spatial demands, possibly to underlie sustained visuo-spatial attention and self-control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]