T. Barthel et al., Readiness potential in different states of physical activation and after ingestion of taurine and/or caffeine containing drinks, AMINO ACIDS, 20(1), 2001, pp. 63-73
To investigate the influence of taurine and caffeine containing drinks and
physical stress on the cortical movement-preparation, the readiness potenti
als or "Bereitschaftspotentiale" (BPs), preceding voluntary self-placed ped
alling movements, were examined after different states of exhaustion on an
ergometer. 15 (13 right-handed) healthy men, aged between 22-30, participat
ed in a randomised, cross over, double-blind, placebo controlled study.
BPs were averaged out of artefact free EEG-segments from more than 90 trigg
ered events, measured at 17 electrodes of the 10:20 system. With increasing
effort the BPs were enlarged differently depending on the drink consumed.
In placebo trials after exhaustive exercise premovement negative potential
curves could be seen even in frontal areas. With caffeine the BPs increased
after lower workload, achieving a level, which was reached in the placebo
trials only after submaximal physical activation. Furthermore a significant
shortening of premovement-brain-potentials in frontal and parietal regions
could be seen in the caffeine trials at rest. Taurine admixture seems to i
nhibit this effects.