Mental fatigue and exercise performance

An investigation of cognitive task engagement and subsequent muscular endurance performance and brain endurance training (BET) - increased cognitive demand during physical training. Chapter two utilised a triple task (cognitive–physical–cognitive) to investigate the dose-response of a response inhibition task on submaximal handgrip. Handgrip was impaired following cognitive tasks of 10 minutes but not after 5 and 20 minutes. Learning effects occurred during the 20 minute cognitive task. A prior response inhibition task improved performance in a novel response inhibition task. These results can be explained by cognitive control theory. Chapter three demonstrated that engagement in a mentally demanding cognitive task, without response inhibition, for a period of 20 minutes did not impair submaximal isometric handgrip exercise. Chapter four investigated temporal effect of mental fatigue with 4 blocks of 10 minutes cognitive task followed by 5 minutes of rhythmic handgrip. Over time indices of mental fatigue diverge, with self-report measures accentuating and physiological measures attenuating. After 20 minutes this state of mental fatigue impaired physical performance. Chapter five demonstrated that 6 weeks BET alongside submaximal handgrip training, increased endurance performance by 32%, which occurred with a higher prefrontal cortex oxygenation, relative to 12% improvements in control