BDNF Val66Met polymorphism attenuates explosive jump fatigue differentially after trans-spinal anodal direct current stimulation

Non-invasive anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) can modulate central nervous system activity (1-5) with effects lasting for at least one hour post stimulation. In healthy subjects we observed tsDCS to alter the performance of repeated maximal effort explosive countermovement vertical jumps through effects on motor fatigue mechanisms and coordination (6). However, there is significant variability between subjects. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key mediator of activity-based neuroplasticity. Carriers of the BDNF Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphism (Met SNP; rs6265) secrete less BDNF (7) and have altered neuroplastic responses to tsDCS (8) compared to normal Val66Val carriers. Accordingly, we are investigating if any association can be identified between BDNF genotype and changes in repeated jump performance following sham and active anodal tsDCS.