TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Mental Fatigue on a Strength Endurance Task
T2 - Is There a Role for the Movement-Related Cortical Potential?
AU - Proost, Matthias
AU - Habay, Jelle
AU - De Wachter, Jonas
AU - De Pauw, Kevin
AU - Marusic, Uros
AU - Meeusen, Romain
AU - De Bock, Sander
AU - Roelands, Bart
AU - Van Cutsem, Jeroen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
PY - 2024/3/1
Y1 - 2024/3/1
N2 - Purpose Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how mental fatigue degrades sport performance. In terms of endurance performance, a role for an increased perceived exertion has been demonstrated. Using electroencephalography and, more specifically, the movement-related cortical potential (MRCP), the present study explored the neural mechanisms that could underlie the mental fatigue-associated increase in perceived exertion. Methods Fourteen participants (age, 23 ± 2 yr; 5 women, 9 men) performed one familiarization and two experimental trials in a randomized, blinded, crossover study design. Participants had to complete a submaximal leg extension task after a mentally fatiguing task (EXP; individualized 60-min Stroop task) or control task (CON; documentary). The leg extension task consisted of performing 100 extensions at 35% of 1 repetition maximum, during which multiple physiological (heart rate, electroencephalography) and subjective measures (self-reported feeling of mental fatigue, cognitive load, behand motivation, ratings of perceived exertion) were assessed. Results Self-reported feeling of mental fatigue was higher in EXP (72 ± 18) compared with CON (37 ± 17; P < 0.001). A significant decrease in flanker accuracy was detected only in EXP (from 0.96 ± 0.03% to 0.03%; P < 0.05). No significant differences between conditions were found in MRCP characteristics and perceived exertion. Specifically in EXP, alpha wave power increased during the leg extension task (P < 0.01). Conclusions Mental fatigue did not impact the perceived exertion or MRCP characteristics during the leg extension task. This could be related to low perceived exertion and/or the absence of a performance outcome during the leg extension task. The increase in alpha power during the leg extension task in EXP suggests that participants may engage a focused internal attention mechanism to maintain performance and mitigate feelings of fatigue.
AB - Purpose Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how mental fatigue degrades sport performance. In terms of endurance performance, a role for an increased perceived exertion has been demonstrated. Using electroencephalography and, more specifically, the movement-related cortical potential (MRCP), the present study explored the neural mechanisms that could underlie the mental fatigue-associated increase in perceived exertion. Methods Fourteen participants (age, 23 ± 2 yr; 5 women, 9 men) performed one familiarization and two experimental trials in a randomized, blinded, crossover study design. Participants had to complete a submaximal leg extension task after a mentally fatiguing task (EXP; individualized 60-min Stroop task) or control task (CON; documentary). The leg extension task consisted of performing 100 extensions at 35% of 1 repetition maximum, during which multiple physiological (heart rate, electroencephalography) and subjective measures (self-reported feeling of mental fatigue, cognitive load, behand motivation, ratings of perceived exertion) were assessed. Results Self-reported feeling of mental fatigue was higher in EXP (72 ± 18) compared with CON (37 ± 17; P < 0.001). A significant decrease in flanker accuracy was detected only in EXP (from 0.96 ± 0.03% to 0.03%; P < 0.05). No significant differences between conditions were found in MRCP characteristics and perceived exertion. Specifically in EXP, alpha wave power increased during the leg extension task (P < 0.01). Conclusions Mental fatigue did not impact the perceived exertion or MRCP characteristics during the leg extension task. This could be related to low perceived exertion and/or the absence of a performance outcome during the leg extension task. The increase in alpha power during the leg extension task in EXP suggests that participants may engage a focused internal attention mechanism to maintain performance and mitigate feelings of fatigue.
KW - Cognitive Fatigue
KW - Electroencephalography
KW - Endurance Performance
KW - Leg Extension Task
KW - Ratings Of Perceived Exertion
KW - Self-Reported Feeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185224222&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003322
DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003322
M3 - Article
C2 - 37847068
AN - SCOPUS:85185224222
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 56
SP - 435
EP - 445
JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
IS - 3
ER -