The Effect of Mental Fatigue on Performance in Endurance Tasks: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12800/ccd.v20i63.2269Abstract
Mental fatigue affects not only cognitive performance, but also physical performance. The main objective of this study was to review the existing literature on the influence of mental fatigue on the ability to withstand sustained physical efforts (endurance tasks). For this purpose, we performed a systematic literature review in the online databases Web Of Science, PubMed and Scopus with the following search terms and Boolean conjunctions: mental fatigue or cognitive fatigue and exercise or endurance and time to exhaustion or time trial or running or cycling. A total of 28 articles, comprising 29 interventions, were included with a high methodological quality (range: 6-8 points out of 10 possible) measured using the PEDro scale. A total of 86% of the included interventions show that mental fatigue reduces performance in the endurance tests compared to a control condition without mental fatigue. In addition, mental fatigue increases the subjective perception of effort, without altering heart rate or blood lactate concentration. Therefore, the results show the importance of avoiding any activity that involves high cognitive demands prior to training or competition events, due to the detrimental effects on endurance capacity.
References
Ansdell, P., Thomas, K., Hicks, K. M., Hunter, S. K., Howatson, G., & Goodall, S. (2020). Physiological sex differences affect the integrative response to exercise: acute and chronic implications. Experimental Physiology, 105(12), 2007–2021. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP088548
Barzegarpoor, H., Amoozi, H., Rajabi, H., Button, D., & Fayazmilani, R. (2020). The Effects of Performing Mental Exertion during Cycling Exercise on Fatigue Indices. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(12), 846–857. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1179-8326
Boksem, M. A. S., & Tops, M. (2008). Mental fatigue: Costs and benefits. Brain Research Reviews, 59(1), 125–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.07.001
Brown, D. M. Y., & Bray, S. R. (2019). Effects of Mental Fatigue on Exercise Intentions and Behavior. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 53(5), 405–414. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kay052
Brownsberger, J., Edwards, A., Crowther, R., & Cottrell, D. (2013). Impact of Mental Fatigue on Self-paced Exercise. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(12), 1029–1036. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1343402
Filipas, L., Borghi, S., La Torre, A., & Smith, M. R. (2021). Effects of mental fatigue on soccer-specific performance in young players. Science and Medicine in Football, 5(2), 150–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2020.1823012
Filipas, L., Gallo, G., Pollastri, L., & Torre, A. L. (2019a). Mental fatigue impairs time trial performance in sub-elite under 23 cyclists. PLoS ONE, 14(6), e0218405. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218405
Filipas, L., Gallo, G., Pollastri, L., & Torre, A. L. (2019b). Mental fatigue impairs time trial performance in sub-elite under 23 cyclists. PLoS ONE, 14(6), e0218405. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218405
Filipas, L., Martin, K., Northey, J. M., La Torre, A., Keegan, R., & Rattray, B. (2020a). A 4-week endurance training program improves tolerance to mental exertion in untrained individuals. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(12), 1215–1219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.04.020
Filipas, L., Martin, K., Northey, J. M., La Torre, A., Keegan, R., & Rattray, B. (2020b). A 4-week endurance training program improves tolerance to mental exertion in untrained individuals. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(12), 1215–1219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.04.020
Filipas, L., Mottola, F., Tagliabue, G., & La Torre, A. (2018). The effect of mentally demanding cognitive tasks on rowing performance in young athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 39, 52–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.002
Greco, G., Tambolini, R., Ambruosi, P., & Fischetti, F. (2017). Negative effects of smartphone use on physical and technical performance of young footballers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 17(4), 2495–2501. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2017.04280
Harris, J. D., Quatman, C. E., Manring, M. M., Siston, R. A., & Flanigan, D. C. (2014). How to write a systematic review. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 42(11), 2761–2768. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546513497567
Holgado, D., Sanabria, D., Perales, J. C., & Vadillo, M. A. (2020). Mental fatigue might be not so bad for exercise performance after all: A systematic review and bias-sensitive meta-analysis. Journal of Cognition, 3(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.5334/joc.126
Holgado, D., Zabala, M., & Sanabria, D. (2019). Correction: No evidence of the effect of cognitive load on self-paced cycling performance (PLoS ONE (2019) 14:5 (e0217825) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217825). PLoS ONE, 14(7), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219340
Holgado, D., Zabala, M., & Sanabria, D. (2019). No evidence of the effect of cognitive load on self-paced cycling performance. PLoS ONE, 14(5), e0217825. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217825
Lam, H. K. N., Middleton, H., & Phillips, S. M. (2021). The effect of self-selected music on endurance running capacity and performance in a mentally fatigued state. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 17(4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2022.174.16
Lopes, T. R., Oliveira, D. M., Simurro, P. B., Akiba, H. T., Nakamura, F. Y., Okano, A. H., Dias, Á. M., & Silva, B. M. (2020). No Sex Difference in Mental Fatigue Effect on High-Level Runners’ Aerobic Performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 52(10), 2207–2216. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002346
MacMahon, C., Hawkins, Z., & Schücker, L. (2019). Beep Test Performance Is Influenced by 30 Minutes of Cognitive Work. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 51(9), 1928–1934. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001982
MacMahon, C., Schuecker, L., Hagemann, N., & Strauss, B. (2014). Cognitive Fatigue Effects on Physical Performance During Running. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 36(4), 375–381. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2013-0249
Marcora, S. M., Staiano, W., & Manning, V. (2009). Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 106(3), 857–864. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.91324.2008
Martin, K., Meeusen, R., Thompson, K. G., Keegan, R., & Rattray, B. (2018). Mental Fatigue Impairs Endurance Performance: A Physiological Explanation. Sports Medicine, 48(9), 2041–2051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0946-9
Martin, K., Staiano, W., Menaspà, P., Hennessey, T., Marcora, S., Keegan, R., Thompson, K. G., Martin, D., Halson, S., & Rattray, B. (2016). Superior inhibitory control and resistance to mental fatigue in professional road cyclists. PLoS ONE, 11(7), e0159907. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159907
Martin, K., Thompson, K. G., Keegan, R., & Rattray, B. (2019). Are Individuals Who Engage in More Frequent Self-Regulation Less Susceptible to Mental Fatigue? Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 41(5), 289–297. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0222
Möckel, T., Beste, C., & Wascher, E. (2015). The Effects of Time on Task in Response Selection - An ERP Study of Mental Fatigue. Scientific Reports, 5, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep10113
Pageaux, B., Lepers, R., Dietz, K. C., & Marcora, S. M. (2014). Response inhibition impairs subsequent self-paced endurance performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 114(5), 1095–1105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2838-5
Penna, E. M., Filho, E., Campos, B. T., Ferreira, R. M., Parma, J. O., Lage, G. M., Coswig, V. S., Wanner, S. P., & Prado, L. S. (2021). No Effects of Mental Fatigue and Cerebral Stimulation on Physical Performance of Master Swimmers. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 634405. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634405
Penna, E. M., Filho, E., Wanner, S. P., Campos, B. T., Quinan, G. R., Mendes, T. T., Smith, M. R., & Prado, L. S. (2018). Mental Fatigue Impairs Physical Performance in Young Swimmers. Pediatric Exercise Science, 30(2), 208–215. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2017-0128
Pires, F. O., Silva-Junior, F. L., Brietzke, C., Franco-Alvarenga, P. E., Pinheiro, F. A., de Franca, N. M., Teixeira, S., & Santos, T. M. (2018). Mental Fatigue Alters Cortical Activation and Psychological Responses, Impairing Performance in a Distance- Based Cycling Trial. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00227
Salam, H., Marcora, S. M., & Hopker, J. G. (2018). The effect of mental fatigue on critical power during cycling exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 118(1), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3747-1
Silva-Cavalcante, M. D., Couto, P. G., Azevedo, R. A., Silva, R. G., Coelho, D. B., Lima-Silva, A. E., & Bertuzzi, R. (2018). Mental fatigue does not alter performance or neuromuscular fatigue development during self-paced exercise in recreationally trained cyclists. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 118(11), 2477–2487. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3974-0
Smith, M. R., Coutts, A. J., Merlini, M., Deprez, D., Lenoir, M., & Marcora, S. M. (2016). Mental Fatigue Impairs Soccer-Specific Physical and Technical Performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 48(2), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000762
Smith, M. R., Marcora, S. M., & Coutts, A. J. (2015). Mental Fatigue Impairs Intermittent Running Performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 47(8), 1682–1690. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000592
Staiano, W., Bosio, A., Piazza, G., Romagnoli, M., & Invernizzi, P. L. (2019). Kayaking performance is altered in mentally fatigued young elite athletes. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59(7), 1253–1262. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.18.09051-5
Van Cutsem, J., Marcora, S., De Pauw, K., Bailey, S., Meeusen, R., & Roelands, B. (2017a). The Effects of Mental Fatigue on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 47(8), 1569–1588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0672-0
Veness, D., Patterson, S. D., Jeffries, O., & Waldron, M. (2017). The effects of mental fatigue on cricket-relevant performance among elite players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(24), 2461–2467. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1273540
Weerakkody, N. S., Taylor, C. J., Bulmer, C. L., Hamilton, D. B., Gloury, J., O’Brien, N. J., Saunders, J. H., Harvey, S., & Patterson, T. A. (2021). The effect of mental fatigue on the performance of Australian football specific skills amongst amateur athletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 24(6), 592–596. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSAMS.2020.12.003
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Creative Commons Attribution License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The authors who publish in this journal agree with the following terms:
- The authors retain the copyright and guarantee the journal the right to be the first publication of the work as well as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with recognition of the authorship of the work and the initial publication in this journal.