The Electrophysiological Signature of the Mental Fatigue-induced Impairment in Endurance Performance

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Electroencephalography; Mental Fatigue
• Interventions: Other: Control (Documentary); Other: Mental Fatigue (Stroop task)

• Registration Number: NCT04719975
• Lead Sponsor: Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to provide further insights into the neurophysiology behind the MF-induced impairment in endurance performance. The aim is to perform a randomized controlled trial in which we partly replicate studies of Marcora et al. (2009) and Bigliassi et al. (2017), while extensively monitoring brain activity during the entire protocol (i.e. both cognitive and physical tasks) by using EEG.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-09-22
• Status Verified: 2021-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-01-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-01-19
• Study First Posted: 2021-01-22
• Last Update Posted: 2021-01-22
• Study Start: 2021-02-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-06-30
• Study Completion: 2021-07-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 25

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy (No neurological or cardiovascular disorders)
• Male or female
• No medication
• Non-smoker
• Between 18 and 35 years old
• Recreational athlete population (performance level 2 or 3 for men according to De Pauw et al. (2013) and performance level 2 or 3 for woman according to Decroix et al. (2016)

Exclusion Criteria

• Injuries over the last 6 months
• Suffering from any cardiovascular condition
• Use of medication
• Suffering from other health conditions at the time of testing
• Use of caffeine or alcohol 24 hours prior to each trial
• Heavy efforts 24 hours prior to each trial

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control Task (Documentary) - Chair Task	Control (Documentary)	In the control task subjects will have to watch a documentary on the same computer screen as that used for the experimental trial. These documentaries are chosen based on their emotionally neutral, yet engaging content. This will be followed by the Chair Task, During the whole trial EEG will be measured.
Mental Fatigue (Stroop) - Chair task	Mental Fatigue (Stroop task)	Participants will be performing the Chair Task (150 submaximal dynamic knee extensions at 50% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)) when mentally fatigued. A 60 minute variant of the Stroop task will be used to induce the mental fatigue. During the whole trial EEG will be measured.
Mental Fatigue (Stroop) - Bike Task	Mental Fatigue (Stroop task)	Participants will be performing the Bike Task (a 9 min cycling task performed at 45 rpm with intensity being constant and will be 10% below VT) when mentally fatigued. A 60 minute variant of the Stroop task will be used to induce the mental fatigue. During the whole trial EEG will be measured.
Control task (Documentary) - Bike Task	Control (Documentary)	In the control task subjects will have to watch a documentary on the same computer screen as that used for the experimental trial. These documentaries are chosen based on their emotionally neutral, yet engaging content. This will be followed by the Bike Task, During the whole trial EEG will be measured.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Accuracy Flanker Task	Total of 10 minutes	Accuracy will be assessed during Flanker task
Reaction Time Stroop Task	60 minutes	Reaction Time will be assessed during Stroop task
Reaction Time Flanker Task	Total of 10 minutes	Reaction Time will be assessed during Flanker task
Accuracy performance Stroop Task	60 minutes	Accuracy will be assessed during Stroop task
Electroencephalogram data	1 hours 30 minutes - 2 hours	During whole of the trials EEG data will be gathered, each trial will last one and a half to two hours. EEG power in delta, theta, alpha, beta band.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group; 🇧🇪 Brussel, Elsene, Belgium