A dynamic network involving M1-S1, SII-insular, medial insular, and cingulate cortices controls muscular activity during an isometric contraction reaction time task.

Magnetoencephalographic, electromyographic (EMG), work, and reaction time (RT) were recorded from nine subjects during visually triggered intermittent isometric contractions of the middle finger under two conditions: unloaded and loaded (30% of maximal voluntary contraction). The effect of muscle fatigue was studied over three consecutive periods under both conditions. In the loaded condition, the motor evoked field triggered by the EMG onset decreased with fatigue, whereas movement-evoked fields (MEFs) increased (P < 0.01). Fatigue was demonstrated in the loaded condition, since (i) RT increased due to an increase in the electromechanical delay (P < 0.002); (ii) work decreased from Periods 1 to 3 (P < 0.005), while (iii) the myoelectric RMS amplitude of both flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor muscles increased (P < 0.003) and (iv) during Period 3, the spectral deflection of the EMG median frequency of the FDS muscle decreased (P < 0.001). In the unloaded condition and at the beginning of the loaded condition, a parallel network including M1-S1, posterior SII-insular, and posterior cingulate cortices accounted for the MEF activities. However, under the effect of fatigue, medial insular and posterior cingulate cortices drove this network. Moreover, changes in the location of insular and M1-S1 activations were significantly correlated with muscle fatigue (increase of RMS-EMG; P < 0.03 and P < 0.01, respectively). These results demonstrate that a plastic network controls the strength of the motor command as fatigue occurs: sensory information, pain, and exhaustion act through activation of the medial insular and posterior cingulate cortices to decrease the motor command in order to preserve muscle efficiency and integrity.

Analysis of heart rate variability after a ranger training course.

We studied the effects of prolonged physical activities on resting heart rate variability (HRV) during a training session attended by 23 cadets of the French military academy. This course lasts 1 month and is concluded by a 5-day field exercise simulation with physical and psychological stress. Data collection took place before (B) and immediately at the end (E) of the course. It included HRV recordings during a stand test (5 minutes lying down and 5 minutes standing), with a Polar R-R monitor, followed by blood sampling to assay plasma testosterone. The results (B and E) showed that the testosterone level fell by approximately 28.6 +/- 7%, indicating a high level of fatigue. During the stand test, the total power (TP) of the HRV spectrum increased in a supine position. The TP of B was 5,515.7 ms2 (SE, 718.4) and of E was 13018.9 ms2 (SE, 2,539.2; p < 0.001). High-frequency (HF) normalized values increased and low-frequency (LF) normalized values fell, regardless of position (HF normalized values and LF normalized values: supine, p < 0.01, p < 0.05; standing, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). LF:HF ratio fell 66.2 (SE, 12.9%; p < 0.01) in a lying position. During the time-domain analysis of HRV, differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals more than 50 milliseconds, expressed as a percentage, and differences between the coupling intervals of adjacent normal RR intervals increased in the lying position (p < 0.001). These results as a whole suggest that parasympathetic nervous system activity increases with fatigue.

Declarative memory impairments following a military combat course: parallel neuropsychological and biochemical investigations.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on several forms of memory and metabolism of a 5-day combat course including heavy and continuous physical activities and sleep deprivation. Mnemonic performance and biochemical parameters of 21 male soldiers were examined before and at the end of the course. Our results showed that short-term memory (memory span, visual memory, audiovisual association) and long-term memory were significantly impaired, whereas short-term spatial memory and planning tasks were spared. Parallel biochemical analysis showed an adaptation of energy metabolism. The observed decrease in glycaemia may be partly responsible for the long-term memory impairment, whereas the decreases in plasma cholinesterases and choline may be involved in the short-term memory deterioration. However, there are also many other reasons for the observed memory changes, one of them being chronic sleep deprivation.

Enhancement of learning processes following an acute modafinil injection in mice.

Modafinil is a wakeness-promoting drug, which is effective in the treatment of narcolepsy; its effects on learning processes are however little studied. Thus, the present study was aimed at determining the effects of an acute modafinil injection on a serial reversal discrimination task performed in a T-maze in mice. Independent groups of mice varying by the level of pretest training (either 1 or 4 days of training) were used. Mice were injected each day with a gum arabic solution before each session began. On the second or the fifth day of training, a single dose of modafinil was injected before testing. Modafinil at 64 mg/kg but not at 32 mg/kg dramatically improved performance as compared to controls in subjects being trained 4 days, but not in subjects being trained 1 day. This improvement of learning was due to the more rapid emergence of a win-stay strategy in modafinil-treated subjects as compare to controls. Thus, our data show that an acute modafinil injection enhances learning processes.

Improvement of learning processes following chronic systemic administration of modafinil in mice.

This study was aimed at determining the effects of a chronic modafinil intraperitoneal administration on the rate of learning in a series of five serial spatial discrimination reversals (SSDR) in a T-maze. Results showed that a daily modafinil administration at 64 mg/kg but not at 32 mg/kg induced a faster learning rate as compared to controls. This learning improvement in experimental mice was due to the faster emergence of a win-stay rule over days of testing. In contrast, a second experiment showed that the same modafinil treatment had no significant effect on contingently reinforced alternation rates over five successive days of testing, as compared to controls. Thus, the results show that modafinil spared the ability to shift responses over trials and consequently, that the use of the win-stay rule to solve the SSDR task observed in modafinil-treated animals is due to an improvement of learning processes.