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Understanding the consequences of repetitive subconcussive head impacts in sport : brain changes and dampened motor control are seen after boxing practice

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Date
10/09/2019
Author
Di Virgilio, Thomas G.
Ietswaart, Magdalena
Wilson, Lindsay
Donaldson, David I.
Hunter, Angus M.
Keywords
Boxing
Motor unit behavior
Subconcussive head impacts
TBI
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Psychiatry and Mental health
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biological Psychiatry
Neurology
Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
NDAS
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Abstract
Objectives: The potential effects of exposure to repetitive subconcussive head impacts through routine participation in sport are not understood. To investigate the effects of repetitive subconcussive head impacts we studied boxers following customary training (sparring) using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), decomposition electromyographic (EMG) and tests of memory. Methods: Twenty amateur boxers performed three 3-min sparring bouts. Parameters of brain function and motor control were assessed prior to sparring and again immediately, 1 h and 24 h post-sparring. Twenty control participants were assessed following mock-sparring. Results: One hour after sparring boxers showed increased corticomotor inhibition, altered motor unit recruitment strategies, and decreased memory performance relative to controls, with values returning to baseline by the 24 h follow up. Conclusion: Repetitive subconcussive head impacts associated with sparring resulted in acute and transient brain changes similar to those previously reported in soccer heading, providing convergent evidence that sport-related head impacts produce a GABAergic response. These acute changes in brain health are reminiscent of effects seen following brain injury, and suggest a potential mechanism underlying the damaging long-term effects of routine repetitive head impacts in sport.
Citation
Di Virgilio , T G , Ietswaart , M , Wilson , L , Donaldson , D I & Hunter , A M 2019 , ' Understanding the consequences of repetitive subconcussive head impacts in sport : brain changes and dampened motor control are seen after boxing practice ' , Frontiers in Human Neuroscience , vol. 13 , 294 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00294
Publication
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00294
ISSN
1662-5161
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2019 Di Virgilio, Ietswaart, Wilson, Donaldson and Hunter. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Description
LW was supported by FP7 grant number 602150-2 (CENTER-TBI)
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/19379

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