Effects of mental fatigue on maximal exercise test performance in physically active and sedentary adults

Abstract

This study examined the effects of mental fatigue on maximal treadmill walking exercise performance. METHODS: 50 young male (n = 25) and female (n = 25) adults were recruited to perform a maximal treadmill walking exercise test to volitional exhaustion on two occasions. Prior to the exercise test, participants performed a cognitive task in a randomized, counterbalanced manner for 30 minutes, with the incongruent Stroop task in the mental fatigue condition, and leisure magazine reading in the control condition. Subjective ratings of perceived mood, fatigue, and motivation to exercise were assessed before and after the cognitive task. Perceptual and physiological responses were collected throughout the exercise test.