Carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinse has been shown to activated brain regions via oral receptors that related to rewards and motor control that can enhance exercise performance. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of CHO mouth rinsing on electroencephalography (EEG) power spectrum responses. Ten recreational athletes performed a mouth rinsing for 10 s with CHO or placebo (PLB) solution on seated position, eyes closed and in air conditioning room. The EEG was measured during the initial mouth rinsing with 14 electrodes attached on the participant’s scalp. The EEG activity included alpha, beta, delta, and theta power increased following mouth rinsing (CHO and PLB). However, a significant alpha power was observed with CHO when compared to PLB mouth rinsing on frontal and temporal regions (p = 0.003). No significant differences within beta, delta, and theta power for both solution comparisons, respectively (p > 0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that brain activity may be related to the presence of CHO mouth rinsing. The changes in cortical responses particularly in alpha power may influence the increased of arousal and motivation level.
