-
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) Aug 2017Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. It has recently been suggested that mental fatigue can affect... (Review)
Review
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 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.
Topics: Athletic Performance; Cognition; Exercise; Exercise Tolerance; Humans; Mental Fatigue; Perception; Physical Endurance; Physical Exertion
PubMed: 28044281
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0672-0 -
Experimental Physiology Dec 2021What is the topic of this review? It provides an overview of the recent papers linking brain neurotransmission with exercise-induced and/or mental fatigue. What advances... (Review)
Review
NEW FINDINGS
What is the topic of this review? It provides an overview of the recent papers linking brain neurotransmission with exercise-induced and/or mental fatigue. What advances does it highlight? The noradrenergic neurotransmitter system hastens central fatigue during prolonged exercise, a finding that coincides with a faster rate of increase in the rating of perceived exertion. 2) Mental fatigue affects several neurotransmitter systems, with presumably an important role for dopamine and adenosine, in multiple brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex.
ABSTRACT
In sports and exercise science, fatigue is an elusive concept that has important implications in performance during exercise. It has been described in many ways (tiredness, exhaustion, lethargy or weariness) and describes a physical and/or mental state of being tired and lack of energy. Exercise-induced fatigue can be defined as an acute impairment of exercise performance, and a distinction has been made between peripheral and central fatigue. Mental fatigue can be defined as a psychobiological state caused by prolonged exertion that has the potential to reduce cognitive performance and exercise performance. Recent studies have given clear indications that brain catecholamines are involved in the onset of fatigue during endurance exercise. Evidence is provided indicating that the noradrenergic neurotransmitter system hastens central fatigue, a finding that coincides with a faster rate of increase in the rating of perceived exertion. Brain neurotransmission is also suggested to play an important role in mental fatigue. Several neurotransmitter systems might be implicated (with the most important role for dopamine and adenosine) in multiple brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex, and the summation of these alterations might explain the impairment in endurance performance in a mentally fatigued state. Obviously, we have to keep in mind that fatigue is a very complex construct and that, besides brain neurochemistry, several other factors play a role in its onset.
Topics: Brain; Exercise; Humans; Mental Fatigue; Norepinephrine; Physical Endurance; Sports
PubMed: 32176398
DOI: 10.1113/EP088186 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Nov 2022Coronavirus 2 is responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the main sequela is persistent fatigue. Post-viral fatigue is common... (Review)
Review
Coronavirus 2 is responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the main sequela is persistent fatigue. Post-viral fatigue is common and affects patients with mild, asymptomatic coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, the exact mechanisms involved in developing post-COVID-19 fatigue remain unclear. Furthermore, physical and cognitive impairments in these individuals have been widely described. Therefore, this review aims to summarize and propose tools from a multifaceted perspective to assess COVID-19 infection. Herein, we point out the instruments that can be used to assess fatigue in long-term COVID-19: fatigue in a subjective manner or fatigability in an objective manner. For physical and mental fatigue, structured questionnaires were used to assess perceived symptoms, and physical and cognitive performance assessment tests were used to measure fatigability using reduced performance.
Topics: Humans; Cognition; COVID-19; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; SARS-CoV-2; Symptom Assessment; Fatigue; Mental Fatigue; Surveys and Questionnaires; Neuropsychological Tests; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
PubMed: 36202253
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104902 -
Journal of Applied Physiology... Mar 2009Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. Although the impact of mental fatigue on cognitive and skilled...
Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. Although the impact of mental fatigue on cognitive and skilled performance is well known, its effect on physical performance has not been thoroughly investigated. In this randomized crossover study, 16 subjects cycled to exhaustion at 80% of their peak power output after 90 min of a demanding cognitive task (mental fatigue) or 90 min of watching emotionally neutral documentaries (control). After experimental treatment, a mood questionnaire revealed a state of mental fatigue (P = 0.005) that significantly reduced time to exhaustion (640 +/- 316 s) compared with the control condition (754 +/- 339 s) (P = 0.003). This negative effect was not mediated by cardiorespiratory and musculoenergetic factors as physiological responses to intense exercise remained largely unaffected. Self-reported success and intrinsic motivation related to the physical task were also unaffected by prior cognitive activity. However, mentally fatigued subjects rated perception of effort during exercise to be significantly higher compared with the control condition (P = 0.007). As ratings of perceived exertion increased similarly over time in both conditions (P < 0.001), mentally fatigued subjects reached their maximal level of perceived exertion and disengaged from the physical task earlier than in the control condition. In conclusion, our study provides experimental evidence that mental fatigue limits exercise tolerance in humans through higher perception of effort rather than cardiorespiratory and musculoenergetic mechanisms. Future research in this area should investigate the common neurocognitive resources shared by physical and mental activity.
Topics: Adult; Affect; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Fatigue; Perceptual Distortion; Physical Exertion; Time Factors
PubMed: 19131473
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.91324.2008 -
PeerJ 2023Mental fatigue has shown to be one of the root causes of decreased productivity and overall cognitive performance, by decreasing an individual's ability to inhibit... (Review)
Review
Mental fatigue has shown to be one of the root causes of decreased productivity and overall cognitive performance, by decreasing an individual's ability to inhibit responses, process information and concentrate. The effects of mental fatigue have led to occupational errors and motorway accidents. Early detection of mental fatigue can prevent the escalation of symptoms that may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders. To date, in clinical settings, the assessment of mental fatigue and stress is done through self-reported questionnaires. The validity of these questionnaires is questionable, as they are highly subjective measurement tools and are not immune to response biases. This review examines the wider presence of mental fatigue in the general population and critically compares its various detection techniques (., self-reporting questionnaires, heart rate variability, salivary cortisol levels, electroencephalogram, and saccadic eye movements). The ability of these detection tools to assess inhibition responses (which are sensitive enough to be manifested in a fatigue state) is specifically evaluated for a reliable marker in identifying mentally fatigued individuals. In laboratory settings, antisaccade tasks have been long used to assess inhibitory control and this technique can potentially serve as the most promising assessment tool to objectively detect mental fatigue. However, more studies need to be conducted in the future to validate and correlate this assessment with other existing measures of mental fatigue detection. This review is intended for, but not limited to, mental health professionals, digital health scientists, vision researchers, and behavioral scientists.
Topics: Humans; Electroencephalography; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Health Personnel; Heart Rate; Mental Fatigue
PubMed: 37637168
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15744 -
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) Sep 2018Mental fatigue reflects a change in psychobiological state, caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. It has been well documented that mental fatigue... (Review)
Review
Mental fatigue reflects a change in psychobiological state, caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. It has been well documented that mental fatigue impairs cognitive performance; however, more recently, it has been demonstrated that endurance performance is also impaired by mental fatigue. The mechanism behind the detrimental effect of mental fatigue on endurance performance is poorly understood. Variables traditionally believed to limit endurance performance, such as heart rate, lactate accumulation and neuromuscular function, are unaffected by mental fatigue. Rather, it has been suggested that the negative impact of mental fatigue on endurance performance is primarily mediated by the greater perception of effort experienced by mentally fatigued participants. Pageaux et al. (Eur J Appl Physiol 114(5):1095-1105, 2014) first proposed that prolonged performance of a demanding cognitive task increases cerebral adenosine accumulation and that this accumulation may lead to the higher perception of effort experienced during subsequent endurance performance. This theoretical review looks at evidence to support and extend this hypothesis.
Topics: Heart Rate; Humans; Mental Fatigue; Physical Endurance; Physical Exertion
PubMed: 29923147
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-018-0946-9 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2021Most people recover within months after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion, but some will suffer from long-term fatigue with a reduced quality of life and... (Review)
Review
Most people recover within months after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion, but some will suffer from long-term fatigue with a reduced quality of life and the inability to maintain their employment status or education. For many people, mental fatigue is one of the most distressing and long-lasting symptoms following an mTBI. No efficient treatment options can be offered. The best method for measuring fatigue today is with fatigue self-assessment scales, there being no objective clinical tests available for mental fatigue. The aim here is to provide a narrative review and identify fatigue in relation to cognitive tests and brain imaging methods. Suggestions for future research are presented.
Topics: Brain Concussion; Humans; Mental Fatigue; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychological Tests; Quality of Life
PubMed: 34199339
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115955 -
Progress in Brain Research 2018Mental fatigue is known to increase subjective feelings of fatigue and to decrease cognitive performance, but its impact on physical performance remains poorly... (Review)
Review
Mental fatigue is known to increase subjective feelings of fatigue and to decrease cognitive performance, but its impact on physical performance remains poorly understood. The aim of this chapter was to review the results of 29 studies published between 2009 and April 2018 and focusing on the impact of mental fatigue on sport-related performance. Taken all studies together, it appears that mental fatigue impairs endurance performance, motor skills performance and decision-making performance. However, maximal force production is not reduced in the presence of mental fatigue. These observations suggest that mental fatigue impairs sport-related performance during exercises performed at a submaximal intensity and not during exercises performed at maximal and supramaximal intensity. The negative impact of mental fatigue on submaximal exercises seems to be mediated by an increase in perception of effort. Future studies should now identify the physiological alterations induced by mental fatigue and responsible of the increased perceived effort.
Topics: Athletic Performance; Decision Making; Humans; Mental Fatigue; Motor Skills; Muscle Strength; Perception; Physical Exertion
PubMed: 30390836
DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.004 -
Reviews in the Neurosciences 2014Fatigue is defined as a decline in the ability and efficiency of mental and/or physical activities that is caused by excessive mental and/or physical activities. Fatigue... (Review)
Review
Fatigue is defined as a decline in the ability and efficiency of mental and/or physical activities that is caused by excessive mental and/or physical activities. Fatigue can be classified as physical or mental. Mental fatigue manifests as potentially impaired cognitive function and is one of the most significant causes of accidents in modern society. Recently, it has been shown that the neural mechanisms of mental fatigue related to cognitive task performance are more complex than previously thought and that mental fatigue is not caused only by impaired activity in task-related brain regions. There is accumulating evidence supporting the existence of mental facilitation and inhibition systems. These systems are involved in the neural mechanisms of mental fatigue, modulating the activity of task-related brain regions to regulate cognitive task performance. In this review, we propose a new conceptual model: the dual regulation system of mental fatigue. This model contributes to our understanding of the neural mechanisms of mental fatigue and the regulatory mechanisms of cognitive task performance in the presence of mental fatigue.
Topics: Brain; Cognition; Humans; Mental Fatigue; Neural Inhibition
PubMed: 24926625
DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2014-0028 -
Technology and Health Care : Official... 2019Recognition of sources in the brain and their interaction with mental fatigue states are interesting subjects for researchers. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Recognition of sources in the brain and their interaction with mental fatigue states are interesting subjects for researchers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the mental fatigue effects on brain areas by dynamic casual modeling (DCM) parameters that are extracted from event-related potential (ERP) signals which were then estimated based on mental fatigue data with visual stimulation.
METHODS
ERP were recorded based on a Continuous Performance Task in four consecutive trials. Active regions and brain sources were extracted by a Multiple Sparse Priors algorithm.
RESULTS
Four models are proposed for DCM. The parameters and the structure of the best model were obtained by SPM software for ERP in each of the four trials.
CONCLUSION
The results illustrate that an increase of mental fatigue through trials leads to increased likelihood of choosing forward models.
Topics: Brain; Brain Mapping; Electroencephalography; Female; Humans; Iran; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mental Fatigue; Models, Theoretical; Photic Stimulation; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 30932904
DOI: 10.3233/THC-181480