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Int J Sports Med 2006; 27(10): 792-797
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872959
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sports Exercise Effect on Shortening of Saccadic Reaction Time Associated with Neck Extensor Muscle Activity

K. Fujiwara1 , K. Kunita2 , H. Watanabe2
  • 1Department of Human Movement and Health, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
  • 2Institute for Health and Sport Sciences, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: September 20, 2005

Publication Date:
02 February 2006 (online)

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Abstract

We investigated sports exercise effect on shortening of saccadic reaction time associated with neck extensor muscle activity. Saccadic reaction time was measured in neck rest position, 20° neck flexion, and 30 % muscle contraction of the shoulder girdle elevators for two groups. These groups were an untrained group that has never belonged to any sports club (UT group) and a group that has belonged to high-speed ball sports clubs (HS group). In the neck flexion and 30 % muscle contraction conditions, there was a significant shortening of the reaction time for the HS group. For the UT group, no significant shortening was found in those conditions, and the reaction time in the 30 % contraction was rather significantly longer than that in the rest position. Sports experience pursuing a high-speed ball will be effective in the shortening of the saccadic reaction time associated with the activity of neck extensors.

Key words

Sports experience - brain activation - division of attention - neck flexion - shoulder girdle elevation

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Prof. K. Fujiwara

Department of Human Movement and Health
Graduate School of Medical Science
Kanazawa University

13 - 1 Takara-machi

Kanazawa

Ishikawa 920 - 8640

Japan

Phone: + 81762652225

Fax: + 81 7 62 34 42 19

Email: fujikatu@med.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp