The Effects of Mental Fatigue on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review
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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
The Effects of Mental Fatigue on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review Jeroen Van Cutsem1,2 • Samuele Marcora2 • Kevin De Pauw1 • Stephen Bailey3 Romain Meeusen1,4 • Bart Roelands1,5
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Published online: 2 January 2017 Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017
Abstract Background Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. It has recently been suggested that mental fatigue can affect physical performance. Objective Our objective was to evaluate the literature on impairment of physical performance due to mental fatigue and to create an overview of the potential factors underlying this effect. Methods Two electronic databases, PubMed and Web of Science (until 28 April 2016), were searched for studies designed to test whether mental fatigue influenced performance of a physical task or influenced physiological and/or perceptual responses during the physical task. Studies using short (\30 min) self-regulatory depletion tasks were excluded from the review. Results A total of 11 articles were included, of which six were of strong and five of moderate quality. The general finding was a decline in endurance performance (decreased time to exhaustion and self-selected power output/velocity or increased & Bart Roelands [email protected] 1
Human Physiology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
2
Endurance research group, School of Sport and Exercise SciencesUniversity of Kent at Medway, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4Ag, UK
3
Department of Physical Therapy Education, Elon University, Elon, NC 27244, USA
4
School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
5
Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
completion time) associated with a higher than normal perceived exertion. Physiological variables traditionally associated with endurance performance (heart rate, blood lactate, oxygen uptake, cardiac output, maximal aerobic capacity) were unaffected by mental fatigue. Maximal strength, power, and anaerobic work were not affected by mental fatigue. Conclusion The duration and intensity of the physical task appear to be important factors in the decrease in physical performance due to mental fatigue. The most important factor responsible for the negative impact of mental fatigue on endurance performance is a higher perceived exertion.
Key Points Mental fatigue impairs endurance performance, whereas maximal strength, power, and anaerobic work are not affected. The impairment in endurance performance due to mental fatigue is mediated by a higher than normal perception of effort. Future studies should use appropriate paradigms to induce mental fatigue and explore the role of the cognitive component and the intensity/duration of the endurance task in the effect of mental fatigue on endurance performance.
1 Introduction Mental fatigue represents a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demand
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