Effects of Exercise-Induced Fatigue on Attention Networks in Active and Inactive Individuals: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: Previous research has shown that neural mechanisms contribute to muscle fatigue by reducing neural drive to the muscles. This pilot study aimed to investigate whether exercise-induced fatigue influences cognitive functions, particularly attentional control (i.e. alerting, orienting, and executive function [(EF)]), and to determine whether these effects differ between physically active and inactive individuals.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four participants were categorized into two subgroups: Active and inactive. Fatigue was induced by performing submaximal aerobic endurance exercise until exhaustion was reached.

Results: Fatiguing exercise improved alertness in both groups. Orientation performance declined in the inactive group but remained unchanged in the active group. EF improved in the active group but showed increased error rates in the inactive group.

Conclusion: The effects of exercise-induced fatigue on attentional networks appear to depend on the physical activity level and specific attention component assessed.