How am I doing? Performance feedback mitigates the effects of mental fatigue on endurance exercise performance

Mental fatigue induced by an earlier cognitive task can impair performance on a subsequent physical task. The current study investigated whether such impairment could be mitigated feedback. In experimental sequential-task design, 63 sport science students completed series of three tasks: 5-min (pre-test), 20-min cognitive, (post-test). Participants were randomly allocated to one groups: feedback (n = 23), no 20), control 20). tasks, which assessed force production during self-paced rhythmic handgrip as measure endurance performance, performed with (feedback group) or without (no group, visual tasks involved either completing 2-back memory induce mental and groups) watching didactic film (control group). Self-report measures (fatigue, exertion, vigor, motivation) collected throughout. increased fatigue, exertion general in the groups compared group. Relative pre-test task, post-test declined group (−14.4%) but did not change (−2.6%) (−2.4%) groups. This mitigation effect was accompanied parallel changes motivation. conclusion, mitigates negative effects performance.