Waves of Endurance: A Pilot Study of Beta Brain Wave Signatures Linked to Immune Adaptation in Transatlantic Rowers

Merin Chandanathil; Daniel P Longman; Tomasz Nowak; Jonathan C K Wells; Jay T Stock; Hannah Schneiders; Nicola L Kelly; Vasavi R Gorantla; Courtney C Lewis; Richard M Millis

doi:10.7759/cureus.84059

Waves of Endurance: A Pilot Study of Beta Brain Wave Signatures Linked to Immune Adaptation in Transatlantic Rowers

Cureus. 2025 May 13;17(5):e84059. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84059. eCollection 2025 May.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Physiology, American University of Antigua, St. Johns, ATG.
² School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, GBR.
³ Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, USA.
⁴ Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, UCL (University College London) Institute of Child Health, London, GBR.
⁵ Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, CAN.
⁶ Anesthesiology, Southeast Scotland School of Anaesthesia, Edinburgh, GBR.
⁷ Medicine, University of Exeter and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Torquay, GBR.
⁸ Medical Education, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA.
⁹ Clinical Medicine, American University of Antigua, St. Johns, ATG.

Abstract

Background: Ultra-endurance athletics, such as transoceanic rowing, imposes significant physiological stress, leading to muscle catabolism and alterations in immune function. A case series pilot study from our laboratory suggests that the central nervous system may mirror these changes through a pattern of disproportionately high beta brainwave voltage amplitude activity that promotes vigilance. This study investigates the relationship between quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) brainwave patterns and markers of innate immune responses in a group of transatlantic rowers post-competition.

Methods: Twenty-four transatlantic rowers (18 male, 6 female; mean age 31 ± 11 years) were assessed immediately after completing a transatlantic rowing competition of 30 to 53 days duration. EEG recordings measured voltage amplitudes of slow delta (1-3 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), and fast beta (13-30 Hz) brainwaves under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Pre- and post-race plasma cortisol, testosterone, leptin, myoglobin, total antioxidant content (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDH), collagen oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), IL-6, bacterial killing activity (BKA), and hemolytic complement activity (HCA) assays were used to assess changes in stress responses and immune functions. Student's paired t-test and Pearson's product-moment coefficient were used to evaluate the significance of pre- versus post-race differences in oxidative stress- and immunologic-related biomarkers, as well as correlations between the post-race qEEG parameters and the pre- versus post-race biomarker differences.

Results: The changes in body weight were significantly negatively correlated with the changes in cortisol and COMP (r = -0.40, p < 0.05) and significantly positively correlated with the changes in leptin (r = +0.6, p < 0.01). Voltage amplitudes of fast beta waves, under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, positively correlated with the pre- versus post-race percent change in BKA (r = +0.42, +0.44, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the pre- versus post-race percent change in HCA (r = -0.65, -0.66, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that prolonged intense physical exertion may induce a pattern of intense cerebral cortical activation correlated with immune modulation. The increased fast beta activity positively correlated with enhanced bacterial killing and decreased HCA, suggesting a link between cortical arousal and immune adaptation. These findings underscore the interconnectedness of neurophysiological states and physiological stress responses in ultra-endurance athletes.

Keywords: body weight loss; hemolytic complement activity; immunological association; leptin association; quantitative electroencephalography; ultra-endurance sports.