INTRODUCTION: Skiing has positive effects on human health and motor ability in daily life activities [1-2]. However, the brain basis of skiing induced balance and motor control benefits are unclear. To unravel these mechanisms, the high quality and reproducibility of the electroencephalographic (EEG) signals recorded during skiing are prerequisite for longitudinal skiing studies. We examined the reproducibility of the skiing evoked cortical EEG potentials during cross-country skiing. METHODS: Four professional male skiers volunteered for two sessions 24-h apart (41 ± 3 y.o.) to perform 3-min of V2-skiing on a treadmill (Rodby, Sweden) at 2° elevation and at velocity matching 85% of their maximal heart rate. 32-channel EEG (ReC Bioengineering Laboratories and LISiN, Turin, Italy) somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) were quantified to 15 supramaximal electrical stimulations at 150% of maximal M-wave to the right common tibial nerve delivered every three skiing cycles at 255 ms after onset of the gliding phase. The 200 µs stimuli amplitude was 43 ± 12 mA in 1st session and 37 ± 16 mA in 2nd session. In addition, ground reaction force and EMG from tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis and soleus muscles were recorded. RESULTS and DISCUSSION: Our newly developed light-weight wireless EEG showed high reproducibility in: (1) cortical location of peak SEP on Cz electrode above the leg area of the primary sensorimotor cortex, (2) peak SEP amplitude of 28 ± 5 µV in 1st session and 27 ± 6 µV in 2nd session and (3) peak SEP latency: N1 was 131 ± 16 ms and P2 was 227 ± 21 ms in 1st session, and N1 was 132 ± 9 ms and P2 was 237 ± 14 ms in 2nd session. In addition, we were able to record and synchronize multiple signals together by using a wireless synchronization unit [3]. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that SEPs during V2 skiing can be used to quantify the cortical processing of somatosensory afferent input. Further studies are needed to show how the EEG responses are modulated according to the individual task-related skills and/or over time to skiing training.
© Copyright 2025 10th International Congress on Science and Skiing, January 28 - February 1, 2025, Val di Fiemme, Italy. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.