JUDO AND CHOKING - EEG AND REGIONAL CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW FINDINGS

Ten judoka were examined at rest by EEG and regional Cerebral Blood Fl ow (rCBF) (133-Xenon inhalation method); in seven of them a syncope wa s induced by choking and EEG was recorded during the loss of conscious ness while rCBF was measured immediately after recovery. Baseline EEG and rCBF examinations were normal. During choking, EEG showed diffuse 2-3 Hz. high voltage waves, predominantly in the anterior regions, the n the EEG gradually recovered to normal. After choking, rCBF decreased in all but one subject, slightly in four and more markedly in two. Ou r findings suggest that there is no evidence of permanent CNS function al changes due to judo practice and choking. The variable rCBF feature s soon after choking-induced syncope may reflect a different timing of recovery from cerebral ischemia for each subject.