Cognitive Performance Enhancement Induced by Caffeine, Carbohydrate and Guarana Mouth Rinsing during Submaximal Exercise

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of serial mouth rinsing (MR) with nutritional supplements on cognitive performance (i.e., cognitive control and time perception) during a 40-min submaximal exercise. Twenty-four participants completed 4 counterbalanced experimental sessions, during which they performed MR with either placebo (PL), carbohydrate (CHO: 1.6 g/25 mL), guarana complex (GUAc: 0.4 g/25 mL) or caffeine (CAF: 67 mg/25 mL) before and twice during exercise. The present study provided some important new insights regarding the specific changes in cognitive performance induced by nutritional supplements. The main results were: (1) CHO, CAF and GUA MR likely led participants to improve temporal performance; (2) CAF MR likely improved cognitive control; and (3) CHO MR led to a likely decrease in subjective perception of effort at the end of the exercise compared to PL, GUA and CAF. Moreover, results have shown that performing 40-min submaximal exercise enhances information processing in terms of both speed and accuracy, improves temporal performance and does not alter cognitive control. The present study opens up new perspectives regarding the use of MR to optimize cognitive performance during physical exercise.

Effects of Carbohydrate, Caffeine, and Guarana on Cognitive Performance, Perceived Exertion, and Shooting Performance in High-Level Athletes

“…Several studies had previously highlighted the beneficial effect of CHO ingestion during prolonged exercise 25,26 but effects appeared to be significant only from 75 minutes of 6,27 . Concerning CAF ingestion, our results highlighted an enhancement of speed of information processing, but no effect was found on response inhibition.…”

“…Response inhibition was assessed using the Simon task 18 , which provides information about the ability to inhibit prepotent responses. For details about the learning criteria please see 6 . The participants were sitting opposite a computer screen placed at 1 meter away, with two response keys on their right and left hands.…”

“…Within this framework, it has been well documented that moderate exercise improves cognitive performance whereas heavy or prolonged exercise could lead to a decrease 2 . Recent studies have indicated that nutritional supplements could help limit central fatigue 3 possibly related to brain neurotransmitters disturbances 4 , and maintain cognitive abilities during exercise 5,6 . These include carbohydrate (CHO) and caffeine (CAF), which are commonly consumed by athletes for their ergogenic effects on endurance performance and more recently to improve on cognitive functioning due to a modification of cerebral physiological state (for review see 3 ).…”

The Effect of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing on Multiple Choice Reaction Time During Amateur Boxing

“…These sports would also arguably benefit from an attenuation in cognitive as well as physical decline due to fatigue, in order to beat an opponent 5 . Rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate solution has been shown to enhance reaction time (RT) at rest (Sanders et al, 2012), improve temporal performance during exercise 6 , reduce exercise induced declines in cognitive function 7 , and reduce perception of fatigue in latter stages of exercise 6 . This could be a result of an inhibition in stress hormone release 7 , a moderation of self-control 8 , or an increase in brain activity in areas associated with attention 2,6 .…”

Efeitos do bochecho com carboidrato sobre o desempenho físico, respostas cerebrais e psicofisiológicas de ciclistas mentalmente fadigados durante um teste incremental máximo

“…Diferente de alguns estudos que utilizaram manipulações com o potencial de reverter os efeitos da FM antes ou durante a execução do teste cognitivo, tais como a ingestão de cafeína (CAF) (ALVARENGA, 2018;AZEVEDO et al, 2016) (AZEVEDO et al, 2016;DAVIS et al, 2003;POMPORTES et al, 2017;VAN CUTSEM et al, 2017b). De fato, Van Cutsem et al (2017b) Brevemente, os autores sugerem que em intensidades acima do LV2, caracterizadas por um aumento relevante do distúrbio metabólico (i.e.…”