The Effects of Performing Mental Exertion during Cycling Exercise on Fatigue Indices

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of performing prolonged mental exertion during submaximal cycling exercise on exercise tolerance and fatigue. Participants performed 5 experimental sessions. Session 1: determination of cycling peak power output. Sessions 2 and 3: cycling to exhaustion at 65% peak power output with mental exertion or watching a movie. Sessions 4 and 5: cycling for 45 min at 65% peak power output with mental exertion or while watching a movie. During sessions 2–5, rate of perceived exertion and heart rate were recorded while cycling and cortisol and prolactin concentrations, psychomotor vigilance task performance, and maximal voluntary contraction were measured pre-and post-sessions. During sessions 2 and 3, time to exhaustion was reduced (p<0.01) and rate of perceived exertion was increased (p<0.01) in session 2 compared to 3. Cortisol, prolactin and heart rate increased and psychomotor vigilance task and maximal voluntary contraction decreased from pre-to post-sessions with no difference between sessions. Cortisol, prolactin and rate of perceived exertion were higher (p<0.03) in session 4 than 5. Heart rate increased and maximal voluntary contraction decreased from pre-to post-sessions with no difference between sessions. Prolonged mental exertion during cycling exercise reduces exercise tolerance, which appears to be mediated psychologically rather than physiologically.

Detrimental effects of prior self‐control exertion on subsequent sporting skill performance

“…It was hypothesized that self‐control exertion would lead to an increase in plasma cortisol concentration, given that combined physical and mental exertion has been shown to result in elevated cortisol. 39 However, there was no difference in cortisol between the self‐control exertion and control trials at any time point. Therefore, the present study provides preliminary evidence that cortisol is not an underpinning mechanism explaining the negative effects of self‐control exertion on subsequent sporting skill performance and sustained attention.…”

“…The present study is the first to examine the effects of self‐control exertion on plasma cortisol concentration. It was hypothesized that self‐control exertion would lead to an increase in plasma cortisol concentration, given that combined physical and mental exertion has been shown to result in elevated cortisol 39 . However, there was no difference in cortisol between the self‐control exertion and control trials at any time point.…”

“…Subsequently, it is speculated that cortisol may have a role to play, given that cortisol has recently been shown to be elevated to a greater extent following combined mental and physical exertion, when compared to physical exertion alone 39 and following a task (30‐min Stroop task) designed to induce mental fatigue 40 . Furthermore, among numerous physiological effects, 41 elevated cortisol levels have been shown to negatively affect subsequent cognitive performance, in particular attention 42 .…”

Head‐to‐head opponent mitigates mental fatigue effects during a 20‐km time trial in well‐trained cyclists

“…3,31,35 The physiological measures, such as HR, lactate, and oxygen consumption during an endurance task exercise, seem to undergo no changes when subjects are mentally fatigued. 3,4,10 Smith et al 4 also no found difference for the HR throughout of a physical endurance task between mental fatigue and control experimental conditions in amateur soccer players. Specifically for cycling, Barzegarpoor et al 10 also no revealed difference for the HR throughout of various physical endurance tasks between mental fatigue and control conditions.…”

Müdigkeit, Fatigue und Erschöpfung: Alles das Gleiche oder Ausprägungen eines Kontinuums? – Ein Diskussionsanstoß

“…(2022) [ 1 ] n = 282 OFER ( α = 0,85) Chronische Fatigue (CF) und Erschöpfung werden hier synonym verwendet; CF/Erschöpfung wird oft als ein langwieriger Zustand betrachtet und beinhaltet körperliche, mentale und emotionale Elemente, inklusive anhaltender Müdigkeit, bei der die Genesung nie vollständig eintreten kann Barzegarpoor et al. (2020) [ 3 ] n = 10 – Fatigue ist ein sehr komplexes Phänomen, das die menschliche Leistungsfähigkeit bei sportlichen Wettkämpfen und Aktivitäten des täglichen Lebens einschränkt Bauer et al. (2020) [ 4 ] n = 24 – Fatigue ist ein physiologisches und psychologisches Phänomen, welches bei verschiedenen körperlichen Aktivitäten in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß auftritt.…”