Visual evoked potentials: differences related to physical activity.

ABSTRACT

Visually evoked potentials to patterned stimuli were recorded from tennis players, rowers and non-athlete control subjects. Each group consisted of 12 males and 12 females of similar age. Tennis players showed shorter P100 latencies compared to those of control subjects and rowers. This difference exists, in the same range, both in the male and in the females. The analysis of covariance and multiple linear regressions show that these shorter latencies cannot be explained by head circumference or by height. The hypothesis of a relationship between these shorter latencies and the specific qualities of racket players is suggested. A second experiment with squash players seems to confirm these first results.