Mental fatigue and motor performance: Functional and mechanistic insights

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While it has been suggested for more than a century that cognitive demands induce mental fatigue, with negative consequences on motor performance, there is surprisingly little scientific data to support this idea. Research in this area is largely restricted to subjective reports or behavioral outcomes, with few objective assessments of mental fatigue and limited insight into associated mechanisms. This proposal outlines a systematic approach with objective, functional and mechanistic outcomes, crucial to understanding the influence and underlying mechanisms of mental fatigue on motor performance. It is well-established that concurrent performance of a cognitive and motor task results in a decrement in performance on one or both tasks. However, these studies involve acutely performed tasks, specifically designed to avoid fatigue development. Whether similar impaired motor function occurs under conditions of mental fatigue, remains unexplored. The proposed research will employ objective measures to address three primary questions: (1) how does mental fatigue impact neuromuscular function? (2) How does mental fatigue impact motor control? (3) How does mental fatigue impact excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in task-specific brain regions? Fully uncovering the consequences of mental fatigue is of paramount importance with the rising incidence of accidents related to the sustained cognitive demands of our technology-driven daily environments. Such information will address a mechanistic understanding, relevant to everyday activities, technology development, and safe workplace practices. We will employ an established task that both induces mental fatigue and provides a continuous objective assessment of it. We will pair this task with assessments of neuromuscular properties (question 1), dynamic motor performance (question 2) and magnetic resonance based assessments of the neurochemical profile of the brain. These complementary contributions will substantially enhance our understanding of the interplay between cognition and motor function, the role of mental fatigue in modulating these relationships, and avenues for mitigating mental fatigue. The short-term goals outlined in this proposal will contribute to the broader aim of my research program, understanding human neuromuscular function, and the influence of environmental factors on that function. Consistent with my previous work, the proposed program will offer exceptional opportunities for training HQP, preparing them for competitive positions in industry and academia in neurophysiology and related fields in STEM.