The Impact of Mental Fatigue on a Strength Endurance Task: Is There a Role for the Movement-Related Cortical Potential?

Abstract

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.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04719975.