Relationship between Cortical Activity and Physical Activity

Dear Colleagues,

The adult brain has the ability to modify its organization (brain plasticity) through physiological mechanisms such as the repetition of simple movements. In 1985, Barker and colleagues were the first to describe magnetic stimulation of the human motor cortex. These observations led to the development of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The ability of TMS to stimulate deep neural structures, such as the motor cortex, has enabled researchers to investigate the integrity of the brain-to-muscle pathway and the functionality of cortical networks.

The aim of this Special Issue is to gather research investigating the effect of physical training on the excitability of the primary motor cortex as evaluated by using TMS. We have hypothesized that training may cause changes in motor cortex excitability. It has been also hypothesized that these changes may be reflected in motor coordination and reaction time. In particular, we would like to encourage the authors to submit original articles, or reviews, on the potential effects of physical and sports activity on the brain. Studies performed with transcranial magnetic stimulators are welcome; however, investigations carried out with other devices, such as EEG, will also be taken into consideration.