Author(s): TANET, E., BIANCO, V., PIERPALO, I., BERCHICCI, M., Institution: UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI , Country: ITALY, Abstract-ID: 1747

INTRODUCTION:
The extrastriate body area (EBA), located in the lateral occipitotemporal cortex, responds robustly to human bodies and body parts [1]. Event-related potentials (ERPs) have been used to investigate this response, with studies showing that body perception modulates components like P1 and N1, reflecting early stages of visual processing [2]. Physical exercise has well-documented benefits, promoting neural plasticity and cognition, especially in regions linked to motor control [3]. However, its effect on brain areas involved in body recognition, such as the EBA, remains underexplored. We aim to investigate whether physical exercise influences neural responses in the EBA by examining changes in ERPs related to body perception. We hypothesize that physical exercise modulates electrical activity in response to body stimuli, with these effects reflected in body-related ERPs. Specifically, we expect alterations in the amplitude or latency of body-related components after aerobic exercise, suggesting neural plasticity in response to physical activity.
METHODS:
Young healthy subjects undergoes a 64-channel EEG recording while randomly looking at visual stimuli depicting the whole body, arms, and legs, both static and in motion, along with scrambled image of the same stimuli as controls, before and after 20 minutes of aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer. Habitual physical activity is assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and body image is evaluated using the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI). Hand dominance is assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Based on G*Power calculations with a statistical power of 80% and an effect size of 0.27 for a within-between interaction ANOVA, this protocol will be conducted on 30 participants.
RESULTS:
Preliminary data from 7 subjects (6F; 23 ± 0.47 years; BMI: 22.8 ± 2.77) show no clear difference between control and body stimuli but suggest a modulation of the N1, the P2 and the P3 components following physical activity. Further analysis with 30 participants will also explore potential correlations between questionnaire scores and ERP data.
CONCLUSION: Acute aerobic physical exercise appears to influence body-related ERPs, with preliminary data suggesting modulations in early and late components, supporting the hypothesis that physical exercise can impact neural responses related to body perception. However, further analysis of the full sample is required to confirm these effects and explore the underlying mechanisms.
REFERENCES:
(Downing et al., 2001; Mandolesi et al., 2018; Taylor et al., 2010)