Insufficient sleep causes muscle fatigue, impacting performance. The mechanism of brain–muscle signaling remains uncertain. In this study, we examined the impact of sleep deprivation on muscle endurance during isometric contractions and explored the changes in brain–muscle connectivity. Methods: The research involved 35 right-handed male participants who took part in an exercise test that included isometric contractions of the left and right biceps in both sleep-deprived and well-rested states. Muscle contraction duration and electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded. Functional connectivity between brain regions was assessed using the phase locking value (PLV), while partial directed coherence (PDC) was used to analyze signal directionality between motor centers and muscles. Results: The connectivity strength between Brodmann areas (BAs) 1-5 and the right BA6, 8 regions was significantly decreased in the isometric contractions after sleep deprivation. Insufficient sleep enhanced the PDC signals from the motor center of the right brain to the left biceps, and it decreased the PDC signals from both biceps to their opposite motor centers. Conclusions: Sleep deprivation shortened muscle isometric contraction duration by affecting the interaction between the somatosensory motor cortex and the right premotor cortex, reducing biceps feedback signal connectivity to the contralateral motor center in the brain.

Introduction: To compare the immediate effects of a single bout of virtual reality (VR) aerobic exercise versus traditional aerobic exercise on depressive mood in middle-school students and to explore the underlying Electroencephalogram (EEG) microstate and power-spectrum mechanisms. Methods: Forty middle-school students were classified into depressed and healthy groups based on the PHQ-9 and completed 15 min of moderate-intensity conventional cycling and VR cycling in a crossover design. Mood was assessed with the Brief Mood Scale (BFS) before and after each intervention, and resting-state EEG was recorded. EEG signals were processed using power spectrum analysis and microstate analysis, and correlation analysis was conducted between BFS questionnaire scores and microstate parameters. Results: Both interventions significantly increased vigor and pleasure while reducing depression and lethargy ( p < 0.001); VR was superior to traditional cycling in improving vigor, depression, and lethargy ( p < 0.01). At baseline, the depressed group showed elevated occurrence and contribution of microstate C with abnormal centroids. After exercise, microstate distributions normalized in both groups; VR specifically reduced microstate C occurrence ( p < 0.05), prolonged microstate D duration ( p < 0.05), and enhanced B → C and D → B transitions ( p < 0.05). Post-VR B → C transition rate correlated negatively with depression ( r = −0.462), whereas microstate D occurrence correlated positively with pleasure ( r = 0.450). Relative theta, alpha, and beta power decreased after exercise ( p < 0.01), without additional VR-mediated power-spectrum gains. Conclusion: A single bout of VR-assisted aerobic exercise more effectively enhances immediate mood in middle-school students with depressive symptoms than traditional cycling, likely owing to stronger modulation of microstate dynamics linked to emotion and attention networks and of oscillatory activity in specific frequency bands.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the differences in the status, psychology, and behaviour of sports consumption between Chinese and UK college students. The questionnaire was distributed through the British JISC questionnaire system, and 1,318 valid questionnaires were obtained. The results showed that the sports consumption ratio of Chinese students was significantly higher than that of UK students, and they were more inclined to choose strengthening the body, recreational leisure, low income, high commodity prices, lack of field equipment, and lack of sports atmosphere as subjective and objective factors that affect sports consumption. Moreover, Chinese students prefer participatory, ornamental, game-class, and training consuming behaviors. In terms of consumption motivation, the reality-seeking motive score of Chinese students was significantly higher, but their consumption cognition score was lower than that of British students.