Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mental fatigue, characterized by a subjective feeling of tiredness, on the development of neuromuscular fatigue during a 4-km cycling time trial (4-km TT).
Methods
Eight recreationally trained male cyclists performed a 4-km TT after either performing a prolonged cognitive task (mental fatigue) or after viewing emotionally neutral documentaries (control). The neuromuscular function of the knee extensors was assessed using electrical nerve stimulation at baseline, before (pre-TT), and after (post-TT) the 4-km TT. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and physiological variables were periodically measured during 4-km TT.
Results
Subjective ratings of fatigue increased significantly only after a prolonged cognitive task (P = 0.022). Neuromuscular function at baseline was similar between conditions and remained unchanged at pre-TT. Time to complete the 4-km TT was similar between control (376 ± 27 s) and mental fatigue (376 ± 26 s). There was no significant difference between conditions for RPE, \(~\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_2}\), \(\dot {V}{\text{E}}\), and HR throughout the exercise. The 4-km TT-induced similar decrease (from baseline to post-TT) in maximal voluntary contraction (mental fatigue − 11 ± 10%, control − 16 ± 12%), twitch force (mental fatigue − 26 ± 16%, control − 24 ± 17%), and voluntary activation (mental fatigue − 5 ± 7%, control − 3 ± 2%) for both conditions.
Conclusion
Mental fatigue induced by prolonged cognitive task does not impair performance nor alter the degree of central and peripheral fatigue development during self-paced exercise in recreationally trained cyclists.
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Abbreviations
- ACC:
-
Anterior cingulate cortex
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- CV%:
-
Coefficient of variation
- EMG:
-
Surface electromyography
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- ICC:
-
Intraclass correlation coefficient
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction force
- PPO:
-
Peak power output
- RMS:
-
Root mean square
- RMSMVC :
-
EMG amplitude during MVC
- RMSTT :
-
EMG amplitude during time trial
- RPE:
-
Rating of perceived exertion
- TT:
-
Time trial
- VA:
-
Maximal voluntary activation level
- VAS:
-
Visual analogue scale
- \(~\dot {V}{\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}\) :
-
Carbon dioxide production
- \(\dot {V}{\text{E}}\) :
-
Minute ventilation
- \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}}\) :
-
Maximal oxygen uptake
- \(\eta _{P}^{2}\) :
-
Partial eta squared
- 4-km:
-
TT 4-km cycling time trial
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the cyclists for their participation in this study. Marcos D. Silva-Cavalcante and Patrícia Guimaraes Couto are grateful to Coordination of Improvement of Personnel of Superior Level (CAPES) for Ph.D. scholarships. Marcos D. Silva-Cavalcante also is grateful to CAPES for current Post Doctoral Fellowship (PNPD/CAPES). The English text of this paper has been revised by Sidney Pratt, Canadian, MAT (The Johns Hopkins University), RSAdip—TESL (Cambridge University).
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Formulation of the idea and designed research by MDSC, RB, and AELS; data collection by MDSC, PGC, and RAA; data analysis and interpretation by MDSC, RB, DBC, AELS, PGC, and RAA; preparation of the manuscript by MDSC, RB, RGS, AELS, PGC, and RAA; edition and revision by MDSC, RB, RGS, DBC, AELS, PGC, and RAA. All authors have read and give final approval of this version of the manuscript for publication.
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Communicated by Anni Vanhatalo.
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Silva-Cavalcante, M.D., Couto, P.G., Azevedo, R. et al. Mental fatigue does not alter performance or neuromuscular fatigue development during self-paced exercise in recreationally trained cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 2477–2487 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3974-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3974-0