Mental Fatigue Negatively Impacts Cognitive and Physical Performance Outcomes: A Large-Scale Randomized Crossover Trial

Jelle Habay; Y Laurisa Arenales Arauz; Matthias Proost; Emilie Schampheleer; Elke Lathouwers; Kevin De Pauw; Nathalie Pattyn; Jeroen Van Cutsem; Bart Roelands

doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852

Mental Fatigue Negatively Impacts Cognitive and Physical Performance Outcomes: A Large-Scale Randomized Crossover Trial

Jelle Habay, Y Laurisa Arenales Arauz, Matthias Proost, Emilie Schampheleer, Elke Lathouwers, Kevin De Pauw, Nathalie Pattyn, Jeroen Van Cutsem, Bart Roelands (Corresponding Author)

Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: Although many studies have demonstrated that prolonged cognitive load can impair subsequent cognitive and physical performance, commonly described as mental fatigue, more recent findings suggest that the relationship is more nuanced. Moreover, significant heterogeneity between different smaller studies make it difficult to summarize definitive conclusions. The aim of the present study was to provide a more robust examination of the detrimental effects of sustained cognitive demands on cognitive and physical performance fatigability, using a large sample within a controlled environment.

METHODS: 117 participants (57 ♀; 32 ± 9 y) were included in this randomized counterbalanced crossover experiment (NCT05576935), consisting of a familiarization, intervention (45 min individualized Stroop task) and control (45 min self-chosen documentary) session. Performance was evaluated using a 6-min GoNoGo task and a 20-min cycling time trial. Multiple secondary outcomes, such as rate of perceived exertion (RPE), feelings of fatigue and motivation, were incorporated to explore their relationship to possible behavioural effects.

RESULTS: There was a significant worsening of GoNoGo reaction time between conditions (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.07). A trend towards significance was found regarding the negative influence of the Stroop task on time trial distance (p = 0.059; d = 0.20), which was linked to a significant decrease in cadence (p = 0.042; d = 0.22) in the intervention condition. Moreover, the feelings of physical fatigue (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.01), mental fatigue (p < 0.001; r = 0.37-0.47) and RPE (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.01) remained higher during the time trial in the intervention condition compared to the control condition.

CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, prolonged cognitive effort impaired specific cognitive and physical performance outcomes, consistent with the characteristics of mental fatigue. Secondary outcomes show an important role for the feeling of fatigue in the determination of physical performance.

Original language	English
Number of pages	4687
Journal	Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 8 Sept 2025

Field of Science*

3.1 Basic medicine

Publication Type*

1.3. Anonymously reviewed scientific article published in a journal with an international editorial board and is available in another indexed database

Access to Document

10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Mental fatigue negatively impacts cognitiveAccepted author manuscript, 19.1 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Habay, J., Arauz, Y. L. A., Proost, M., Schampheleer, E., Lathouwers, E., De Pauw, K., Pattyn, N., Van Cutsem, J., & Roelands, B. (2025). Mental Fatigue Negatively Impacts Cognitive and Physical Performance Outcomes: A Large-Scale Randomized Crossover Trial. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852

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title = "Mental Fatigue Negatively Impacts Cognitive and Physical Performance Outcomes: A Large-Scale Randomized Crossover Trial",

abstract = "PURPOSE: Although many studies have demonstrated that prolonged cognitive load can impair subsequent cognitive and physical performance, commonly described as mental fatigue, more recent findings suggest that the relationship is more nuanced. Moreover, significant heterogeneity between different smaller studies make it difficult to summarize definitive conclusions. The aim of the present study was to provide a more robust examination of the detrimental effects of sustained cognitive demands on cognitive and physical performance fatigability, using a large sample within a controlled environment.METHODS: 117 participants (57 ♀; 32 ± 9 y) were included in this randomized counterbalanced crossover experiment (NCT05576935), consisting of a familiarization, intervention (45 min individualized Stroop task) and control (45 min self-chosen documentary) session. Performance was evaluated using a 6-min GoNoGo task and a 20-min cycling time trial. Multiple secondary outcomes, such as rate of perceived exertion (RPE), feelings of fatigue and motivation, were incorporated to explore their relationship to possible behavioural effects.RESULTS: There was a significant worsening of GoNoGo reaction time between conditions (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.07). A trend towards significance was found regarding the negative influence of the Stroop task on time trial distance (p = 0.059; d = 0.20), which was linked to a significant decrease in cadence (p = 0.042; d = 0.22) in the intervention condition. Moreover, the feelings of physical fatigue (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.01), mental fatigue (p < 0.001; r = 0.37-0.47) and RPE (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.01) remained higher during the time trial in the intervention condition compared to the control condition.CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, prolonged cognitive effort impaired specific cognitive and physical performance outcomes, consistent with the characteristics of mental fatigue. Secondary outcomes show an important role for the feeling of fatigue in the determination of physical performance.",

author = "Jelle Habay and Arauz, \{Y Laurisa Arenales\} and Matthias Proost and Emilie Schampheleer and Elke Lathouwers and \{De Pauw\}, Kevin and Nathalie Pattyn and \{Van Cutsem\}, Jeroen and Bart Roelands",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine.",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "8",

doi = "10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852",

language = "English",

journal = "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental Fatigue Negatively Impacts Cognitive and Physical Performance Outcomes

T2 - A Large-Scale Randomized Crossover Trial

AU - Habay, Jelle

AU - Arauz, Y Laurisa Arenales

AU - Proost, Matthias

AU - Schampheleer, Emilie

AU - Lathouwers, Elke

AU - De Pauw, Kevin

AU - Pattyn, Nathalie

AU - Van Cutsem, Jeroen

AU - Roelands, Bart

PY - 2025/9/8

Y1 - 2025/9/8

N2 - PURPOSE: Although many studies have demonstrated that prolonged cognitive load can impair subsequent cognitive and physical performance, commonly described as mental fatigue, more recent findings suggest that the relationship is more nuanced. Moreover, significant heterogeneity between different smaller studies make it difficult to summarize definitive conclusions. The aim of the present study was to provide a more robust examination of the detrimental effects of sustained cognitive demands on cognitive and physical performance fatigability, using a large sample within a controlled environment.METHODS: 117 participants (57 ♀; 32 ± 9 y) were included in this randomized counterbalanced crossover experiment (NCT05576935), consisting of a familiarization, intervention (45 min individualized Stroop task) and control (45 min self-chosen documentary) session. Performance was evaluated using a 6-min GoNoGo task and a 20-min cycling time trial. Multiple secondary outcomes, such as rate of perceived exertion (RPE), feelings of fatigue and motivation, were incorporated to explore their relationship to possible behavioural effects.RESULTS: There was a significant worsening of GoNoGo reaction time between conditions (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.07). A trend towards significance was found regarding the negative influence of the Stroop task on time trial distance (p = 0.059; d = 0.20), which was linked to a significant decrease in cadence (p = 0.042; d = 0.22) in the intervention condition. Moreover, the feelings of physical fatigue (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.01), mental fatigue (p < 0.001; r = 0.37-0.47) and RPE (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.01) remained higher during the time trial in the intervention condition compared to the control condition.CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, prolonged cognitive effort impaired specific cognitive and physical performance outcomes, consistent with the characteristics of mental fatigue. Secondary outcomes show an important role for the feeling of fatigue in the determination of physical performance.

AB - PURPOSE: Although many studies have demonstrated that prolonged cognitive load can impair subsequent cognitive and physical performance, commonly described as mental fatigue, more recent findings suggest that the relationship is more nuanced. Moreover, significant heterogeneity between different smaller studies make it difficult to summarize definitive conclusions. The aim of the present study was to provide a more robust examination of the detrimental effects of sustained cognitive demands on cognitive and physical performance fatigability, using a large sample within a controlled environment.METHODS: 117 participants (57 ♀; 32 ± 9 y) were included in this randomized counterbalanced crossover experiment (NCT05576935), consisting of a familiarization, intervention (45 min individualized Stroop task) and control (45 min self-chosen documentary) session. Performance was evaluated using a 6-min GoNoGo task and a 20-min cycling time trial. Multiple secondary outcomes, such as rate of perceived exertion (RPE), feelings of fatigue and motivation, were incorporated to explore their relationship to possible behavioural effects.RESULTS: There was a significant worsening of GoNoGo reaction time between conditions (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.07). A trend towards significance was found regarding the negative influence of the Stroop task on time trial distance (p = 0.059; d = 0.20), which was linked to a significant decrease in cadence (p = 0.042; d = 0.22) in the intervention condition. Moreover, the feelings of physical fatigue (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.01), mental fatigue (p < 0.001; r = 0.37-0.47) and RPE (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.01) remained higher during the time trial in the intervention condition compared to the control condition.CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, prolonged cognitive effort impaired specific cognitive and physical performance outcomes, consistent with the characteristics of mental fatigue. Secondary outcomes show an important role for the feeling of fatigue in the determination of physical performance.

U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852

DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852

M3 - Article

C2 - 40938104

SN - 0195-9131

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

ER -

Mental Fatigue Negatively Impacts Cognitive and Physical Performance Outcomes: A Large-Scale Randomized Crossover Trial

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