HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 586/1/65    most recent jphysiol.2007.142661v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nielsen, J. B. Articles by Cohen, L. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nielsen, J. B. Articles by Cohen, L. G. Related Collections Review articles

¹ Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences & Department of Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
² Human Cortical Physiology Section and Stroke Neurorehabilitation Clinic, NINDS, Building 10, Room 5 N226, 10 Center Drive MSC 1430, Bethesda, MD 20892-1430, USA

Non-invasive electrophysiological and imaging techniques have recently made investigation of the intact behaving human brain possible. One of the most intriguing new research areas that have developed through these new technical advances is an improved understanding of the plastic adaptive changes in neuronal circuitries underlying improved performance in relation to skill training. Expansion of the cortical representation or modulation of corticomotor excitability of specific muscles engaged in task performance is required for the aquisition of the skill. These changes at cortical level appear to be paralleled by changes in transmission in spinal neuronal circuitries, which regulate the contribution of sensory feedback mechanisms to the execution of the task. Such adaptive changes also appear to be essential for the consolidation of a memory of performance of motor tasks and thus for the lasting ability of performing highly skilled movements such as those required for Olympic sports.

(Received 7 August 2007; accepted after revision 21 August 2007; first published online 23 August 2007)
Corresponding author J. B. Nielsen: Department of Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Email: j.b.nielsen{at}mfi.ku.dk

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Joyner and B. Saltin Exercise physiology and human performance: systems biology before systems biology! J. Physiol., January 1, 2008; 586(1): 9 - 9. [Full Text] [PDF]