Afternoon:
15°c
Muscle fatigue from exercise is in the mind, study reveals
Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Editor6 Dec 2011
The brain triggers muscle fatigue during heavy exercise, a new study claims.
The mechanism is as a way of stopping us from overdoing it and injuring ourselves, according to Swiss scientists.
They say their findings could help find cures for muscle fatigue and for serious illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
The team, from the University of Zurich, used MRI scans to identify the areas of the brain involved - the thalamus and insular cortex, which analyse potential threats to the body including pain and hunger.
With experiments on an exercise bike, the researchers discovered just how strongly the insular cortex can slow us down.
Co-author of the study, Dr Kai Lutz, said the findings could make it possible "to develop strategies to optimise muscular performance", and "specifically investigate reasons for reduced muscular performance in various diseases".
Reader views (1)
Always thought it was lactic acid build up??
- vince, kingston, 07/12/2011 17:31
Report abuse
