The Link Between Mental Fatigue and Physical Performance.

Mental fatigue resulting from mentally demanding tasks can lead to an increased sense of exertion during physical exercise, according to a study by the University of Birmingham. The researchers recommend coaches reduce athletes’ exposure to mentally challenging tasks, such as smartphone use, before and during training and competitions. Longer term, they should consider ‘brain endurance training’ to increase resilience to mental fatigue. The study suggests that taking the effects of mental fatigue into account during training may help athletes perform better.