Effects of taurine acute intake on cortical excitability and post-exercise facilitation: A TMS study.

Taurine (TAU) is one of the most abundant amino acids in the brain. It has many important physiological functions. The effects of TAU supplementation on brain function need to be further characterized in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a single dose of Taurine (TAU) intake would modulate corticospinal excitability and post-exercise facilitation (PEF) of the motor evoked potentials (MEP).

Exploring the effect of adaptogenic Rhodiola Rosea extract on neuroplasticity in humans.

OBJECTIVES: Rhodiola rosea extract is one of the most common herbal treatment for stress. Its mechanism of action in humans still need to be determined. We investigated the effect of a single dose intake of Rhodiola rosea extract on the plastic after-effects induced by anodal and cathodal motor cortex transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in humans. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers were required to intake 500 mg of either RRE or placebo. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation was used to investigate cortical excitability. Motor threshold, recruitment of motor-evoked potentials, cortical silent period, short-interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation were assessed at different time points. Spinal excitability and peripheral nerve conduction were measured by F-response and M-wave. Furthermore, we assessed the modulation of cortical plasticity using transcranial direct current stimulation after-effects on Motor Evoked Potentials amplitudes. RESULTS: Rhodiola rosea extract acute intake prevented cathodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation-induced Long-term depression-like plasticity. The extract intake did not affect cortical excitability. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a single oral dose of Rhodiola rosea extract intake modulates cortical plasticity in humans preventing the activity-dependent reduction in the efficacy of neuronal synapses. These results suggest that the adaptogenic and antidepressant effects of Rhodiola rosea extract might be based on its modulation of brain plasticity.

Perceived Stress and Coffee and Energy Drink Consumption Predict Poor Sleep Quality in Podiatric Medical Students A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: A cross-sectional survey administered to first- and second-year podiatric medical students aimed to investigate the effect of coffee intake, energy drink consumption, and perceived stress on sleep quality in medical students during their preclinical studies. METHODS: Ninety-eight of 183 students contacted (53.6%) completed a questionnaire comprising standard instruments measuring sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness scale), and perceived stress (ten-item Perceived Stress Scale). Furthermore, we investigated coffee and energy drink consumption. Logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with poor sleep quality and the relation between sleep quality and academic performance (grade point average). RESULTS: High prevalences of poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and perceived stress were reported. In addition, higher odds of developing poor sleep quality were associated with coffee and energy drink intake, perceived stress, and excessive daytime sleepiness. The total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was inversely correlated with grade point average. CONCLUSIONS: First- and second-year podiatric medical students have poor sleep quality. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies to reduce stress and decrease coffee and energy drink intake to minimize their negative effect on sleep quality and academic performance in podiatric medical students.