Beta and alpha electroencephalographic activity changes after acute exercise. Arq. Neuropsiquiatr. 65, 637–641. doi: 10.1590/s0004282x2007000400018

ABSTRACT- Exercise has been widely related to changes in cortical activation and enhanced brain function-ing. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) is frequently used to investigate normal and patholog-ical conditions in the brain cortex. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to observe absolute pow-er alterations in beta and alpha frequency bands after a maximal effort exercise. Ten healthy young vol-unteers were submitted to an eight-minute resting EEG (eyes closed) followed by a maximal exercise test using a mechanical cycle ergometer. Immediately after the exercise, another identical eight-minute EEG was recorded. Log transformation and paired student’s t-test compared the pre and post exercise values (p<0.05). Results indicated a significant absolute power increase in beta after exercise at frontal (Fp1, F3 and F4) and central (C4) areas, which might be related to increased cortical activation. KEY WORDS: EEG, exercise, cortical activation Alterações eletrencefalográficas nas bandas de frequência alfa e beta após exercício de esfor-ço máximo RESUMO- A atividade física vem sendo relacionada com ativação cortical e melhor funcionamento do cére-bro. A eletrencefalografia quantitativa (EEGq) é freqüentemente usada para investigar condições normais e patológicas do córtex cerebral. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi observar alterações na po