%0 Journal Article
%A Holgado, Darías
%A Zandonai, Thomas
%A Zabala, Mikel
%A Hopker, James
%A Perakakis, Pantelis
%A Luque-Casado, Antonio
%A Ciria, Luis
%A Guerra-Hernandez, Eduardo
%A Sanabria, Daniel
%T Tramadol effects on physical performance and sustained attention during a 20-min indoor cycling time-trial: a randomised controlled trial
%D 2018
%@ 1440-2440
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/100319
%X ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of tramadol on performance during a 20-min cycling time-trial (Experiment 1), and to test whether sustained attention would be impaired during cycling after tramadol intake (Experiment 2).DesignRandomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.MethodsIn Experiment 1, participants completed a cycling time-trial, 120-min after they ingested either tramadol or placebo. In Experiment 2, participants performed a visual oddball task during the time-trial. Electroencephalography measures (EEG) were recorded throughout the session.ResultsIn Experiment 1, average time-trial power output was higher in the tramadol vs. placebo condition (tramadol: 220 W vs. placebo: 209 W; p < 0.01). In Experiment 2, no differences between conditions were observed in the average power output (tramadol: 234 W vs. placebo: 230 W; p > 0.05). No behavioural differences were found between conditions in the oddball task. Crucially, the time frequency analysis in Experiment 2 revealed an overall lower target-locked power in the beta-band (p < 0.01), and higher alpha suppression (p < 0.01) in the tramadol vs. placebo condition. At baseline, EEG power spectrum was higher under tramadol than under placebo in Experiment 1 while the reverse was true for Experiment 2.ConclusionsTramadol improved cycling power output in Experiment 1, but not in Experiment 2, which may be due to the simultaneous performance of a cognitive task. Interestingly enough, the EEG data in Experiment 2 pointed to an impact of tramadol on stimulus processing related to sustained attention.
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