In order to provide a clear overview on the current body of knowledge on the effect of mental fatigue and physical performance, a first aim in this PhD was to conduct a systematic review of the available literature on the topic (see Chapter 2). This review pointed out that mental fatigue impairs endurance performance, and the underlying mechanism of this impairment appears to be a higher than normal perceived exertion. Physiological variables traditionally associated with endurance performance (heart rate, blood lactate concentration, oxygen uptake, cardiac output) were not directly affected by mental fatigue during and after endurance performance. Maximal strength, power, and anaerobic work were not affected by mental fatigue. This led to the conclusion that duration, intensity and a cognitive component in the physical task appear to be important moderating factors in the effect of mental fatigue on physical performance. In our search to further explore the link between mental fatigue and physical performance we aimed: (1) to assess in further detail the possible moderating role of heat in the effect of mental fatigue on endurance performance (see Chapter 3), (2) to observe the impact of mental fatigue on sportspecific psychomotor skills (see Chapter 4) and (3) to evaluate a possible countermeasure of mental fatigue (see Chapter 5). These aims resulted in the following research questions: • Research Question 1: Does mental fatigue affect physical performance, and if yes, what are the underlying factors? (Chapter 2) • Research Question 2: Does mental fatigue affect endurance performance in the heat? (Chapter 3) • Research Question 3: Does a heat pad, locally applied to the upper back, impair endurance performance? (Chapter 3) • Research Question 4: Does mental fatigue impair sport-specific psychomotor performance? (Chapter 4) • Research Question 5: Does level of training affect the impact of mental fatigue on sport-specific psychomotor performance? (Chapter 4) • Research Question 6: Does serial caffeine-maltodextrin mouth rinsing counteract mental fatigue? (Chapter 5)
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