Many studies have shown that humans are unable to move well when they are afraid of pain, which is thought to be due to abnormal activity in the brain that is programming exercise.However, the specific brain mechanism has not been clarified so far.
This time, Associate Professor Tomohiro Osumi and Associate Professor Shu Morioka of Kio University and Associate Professor Masahiko Sumitani of the Department of Palliative Care, University of Tokyo Hospital are conducting research to investigate brain activity when humans move their bodies while being afraid of pain. went.As a result, it was found that when one was conscious of moving the body while being afraid of pain, abnormal activity occurred in the center of the exercise program.
In the experiment, the EEG activity of 18 healthy adults was measured in a situation where pain was given when the button was pressed.At the same time, the relationship between the brain wave and the brain wave was investigated by recording the time when the subject answered "the moment when he / she wanted to press the button" and the time when he / she actually pressed the button.
Observation of the brain waves revealed an abnormality in the waveform of the "exercise preparation potential" that appeared when the button was afraid to be pressed (immediately before the button was pressed) (the amplitude was larger than when the condition was not painful).Since the exercise preparation potential reflects the exercise program, this means that something is wrong with the exercise program center.Furthermore, it was also found that this abnormality occurred after the intention of "pressing the button" became apparent (= after noticing one's exercise intention).In other words, the more conscious of exercise or pain, the more likely it is that brain activity will become abnormal.
In addition, at this time, it was also found that overactivity in the area that suppresses movement in the brain and overactivity in the center of the exercise program occur at the same time.It is thought that the brain mechanism in which fear of pain worsens exercise is partly due to "a state in which behavior is suppressed by oneself, but the behavior is forced."
It can be said that the results of this research also suggest the importance of rehabilitation so that exercise / pain is not excessively manifested.
Paper information:[Behavioural Brain Research] Fear of movement-related pain disturbs cortical preparatory activity after becoming aware of motor intention
