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Identifying cardiorespiratory neurocircuitry involved in central command during exercise in humans
Author(s) -
Green Alex,
Wang Shouywan,
Purvis Sarah,
Owen Sarah L.F.,
Bain Peter G,
Stein John F,
Guz Abe,
Aziz Tipu Z,
Paterson David J
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a566-b
Subject(s) - anticipation (artificial intelligence) , cardiorespiratory fitness , local field potential , heart rate , neuroscience , electroencephalography , medicine , blood pressure , physical exercise , exercise physiology , cardiology , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , artificial intelligence
For almost one hundred years, the exact role of human brain structures controlling the cardiorespiratory response to exercise, (‘central command’), has been sought, although not established. In this study, local field potentials were directly recorded in a number of ‘deep’ brain nuclei during an exercise task designed to dissociate the exercise from peripheral feedback mechanisms. Several patient groups had electrodes implanted sterotaxically for the treatment of movement disorder or chronic pain. Fast Fourier transform analysis was applied to the neurograms to identify the power of fundamental spectral frequencies. Anticipation of exercise resulted in increases in heart rate, blood pressure and ventilation. The greatest neural changes were found in the periaqueductal grey area (PAG) where anticipation of exercise was accompanied by an increase of 43.2% in the power spectrum. Exercise increased the activity by 87% compared to rest (p = 0.006). In the sub‐thalamic nucleus there was a reduction in the power during anticipation (7.6 ± 0.68 % p = 0.001), whereas an increase was seen with exercise (93 ± 1.8 % p= 0.007). We provide direct electrophysiological evidence highlighting the PAG as an important sub cortical area in the neural circuitry of the cardiorespiratory response to exercise, since stimulation of this structure is known to increase blood pressure in awake humans.