Last word on Viewpoint : a role for the prefrontal cortex in exercise tolerance and termination

To the editor: We are grateful to our colleagues in providing valuable commentary to our Viewpoint (3). We respond to the key points as we see them. Our aim was to present potential cerebral pathways involved in exercise tolerance, regulation and termination. As stated by Dr. Lutz (see Ref. 1), this model is by no means exclusive and we hope it serves further exploration. We appreciate Micklewright et al.’s (see Ref. 1) recognition that methodological limitations currently mean that we need to draw on neurocognitive evidence to begin the exploration of this area. We certainly agree with Professor Meeusen (see Ref. 1) that we do not have the tools available yet to fully investigate this area. Therefore as per the recommendations within the commentaries, it is important to continue with interdisciplinary research examining neurophysiological responses in conjunction with the measurement and manipulation of internal and external factors. As proposed by Micklewright et al. it is important to consider external factors altering motivational status (see Ref. 1) but also environmental factors altering perceived exertion (2).