Key result
Classical conditioning of physical fatigue using metronome sounds and handgrip trials elicited equivalent current dipoles in the posterior cingulate cortex in 100% of participants, compared to 0% at baseline.
Classical conditioning of central inhibition during physical fatigue can occur and involves the posterior cingulate cortex, providing potential insights into the pathophysiology of chronic fatigue.
Hypothesis-generating for central fatigue mechanisms; larger trials needed before any clinical consideration.
Central inhibition plays a pivotal role in determining physical performance during physical fatigue. Classical conditioning of central inhibition is believed to be associated with the pathophysiology of chronic fatigue. We tried to determine whether classical conditioning of central inhibition can really occur and to clarify the neural mechanisms of central inhibition related to classical conditioning during physical fatigue using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Eight right-handed volunteers participated in this study. We used metronome sounds as conditioned stimuli and maximum handgrip trials as unconditioned stimuli to cause central inhibition. Participants underwent MEG recording during imagery of maximum grips of the right hand guided by metronome sounds for 10 min. Thereafter, fatigue-inducing maximum handgrip trials were performed for 10 min; the metronome sounds were started 5 min after the beginning of the handgrip trials. The next day, neural activities during imagery of maximum grips of the right hand guided by metronome sounds were measured for 10 min. Levels of fatigue sensation and sympathetic nerve activity on the second day were significantly higher relative to those of the first day. Equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) in the posterior cingulated cortex (PCC), with latencies of approximately 460 ms, were observed in all the participants on the second day, although ECDs were not identified in any of the participants on the first day. We demonstrated that classical conditioning of central inhibition can occur and that the PCC is involved in the neural substrates of central inhibition related to classical conditioning during physical fatigue.
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Tanaka et al. (2013) studied Healthy volunteers (Physical fatigue) (n=8). Classical conditioning (metronome sounds paired with fatigue-inducing maximum handgrip trials) vs. Unconditioned state (baseline MEG session on the first day) was evaluated on Presence of equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (p=0.008). Classical conditioning of physical fatigue using metronome sounds and handgrip trials elicited equivalent current dipoles in the posterior cingulate cortex in 100% of participants, compared to 0% at baseline.
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