TMS-evoked Potentials During Aerobic Exercise (TMS-EEGxercise)

The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Brain Connectivity

This study investigates the modification of the local-to-global connectivity pattern in response to a session of aerobic exercise. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be applied to elicit electroencephalography (EEG) responses in healthy volunteers. The TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) will be recorded and serve as a reflection of cortical reactivity and connectivity to TMS.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Aerobic Exercise; Electroencephalography
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Aerobic exercise

Detailed Description

Chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders rank second only to mental and behavioural disorders as a major contributor to worldwide years lived with disability. Chronic musculoskeletal pain restricts mobility, decreases cardiorespiratory capacity and musculoskeletal function, and ultimately reduces exercise capacity and quality of life. Thus, there is an urgent need for new, effective, and affordable strategies to address this growing problem, particularly in health systems around the world.

Abnormal brain connectivity patterns disrupt normal brain function in a specific neural network, causing brain circuit malfunctions and resulting in symptoms such as chronic pain. The advent of electroencephalography (EEG) compatible with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS-EEG) has allowed the measurement of the cortical excitability and connectivity of a single pulse of TMS in any scalp region, providing insights into cortical excitability and connectivity that were not previously possible with techniques exclusively based on MEP, create a map of activation caused by a localized pulse of stimulation. Furthermore, TMS-EEG allows recording the spread and the characteristics of the perturbations caused by a single TMS pulse across the cortex (recorded by several electrodes from an EEG cap). Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on brain functioning. Regular exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells and improves the survival of existing ones. Studies have shown that regular exercise improves cognitive function, memory, and mood, and exercise has been linked to increased production of neurotransmitters, hormones, and growth factors that promote brain health. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on brain excitability and connectivity.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Nordjylland
    • Gistrup, Nordjylland, Denmark, 9260
      • Aalborg University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women
• Speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
• Previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses
• Lack of ability to cooperate
• History of chronic pain or current acute pain
• Contraindications to rTMS application (history of epilepsy, metal in the head or jaw etc.).
• Failure to pass the "TASS questionnaire" (TASS = Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Adult Safety Screen)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Aerobic exercise; 30 minutes of aerobic exercise will be performed by the participants before and after cortical connectivity measurements.	Other: Aerobic exercise; 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on a stationary bike

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cortical connectivity	Global and local mean field amplitude	Cortical connectivity changes will be investigated before and after 30-min aerobic exercise (1 hour)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cortical excitability	TMS-evoked potentials	Cortical excitability changes will be investigated before and after 30-min aerobic exercise (1 hour)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aalborg University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 4, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): February 4, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 10, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 10, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: N-20210047-4

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No