Kristy Martin

University of Canberra · Department of Sport and Exercise Science

Research supports the use of concurrent cognitive and physical training for improving cognition and fitness in older adults. However, as yet, it is unclear if these benefits apply to younger people and if the observed improvements are superior to separate cognitive and physical training. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of concurr...

Combining cognitive and physical exercise is gaining attention as a training modality by offering greater adaptations to both physical and cognitive performance. Research supports the benefits of concurrent training for improving cognition in older adults, but it is unclear if this applies to younger people. This study sought to investigate the eff...

Concurrent cognitive and physical training has proved an effective and efficient method for improving cognitive [1], physical [2], and dual task performance [2]. However, much of this research lacks the application of basic training principles such as individualisation and progressive overload, and consideration of the participant experience. This...

Extended abstract from poster presentation

Objective To quantify the impact of performing challenging cognitive, physical and psychological tasks on subsequent cognitive performance, and whether differences in performance are predicted by psychological variables. Background Successful performance in many occupations depends on resilient cognition: the degree to which cognitive functions ca...

To complement and enhance readiness-monitoring capability, the Acute Readiness Monitoring Scale (ARMS) was developed: a widely applicable, simple psychometric measure of perceived readiness. While this tool may have widespread utility in sport and military settings, it remains unknown if the ARMS demonstrates predictive and concurrent validity. Her...

Purpose: Determine the efficacy of α-lactalbumin (A-LAC) supplementation for improving sleep and performance recovery following simulated evening competition in female athletes. Methods: Sixteen trained females (mean ± SD; age 27 ± 7 years; mass 62 ± 10 kg; stature 167 ± 8 cm) participated in this randomised double-blind three-arm crossover stud...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether 4 weeks of endurance training could improve tolerance to mental exertion in untrained participants. Design: Longitudinal training study. Method: Twenty untrained young adults (14 F, 6 M; 27.6 ± 6.2 years) completed a 4-week training protocol in a randomised and counterbalanced order. Base...

The aim of this study was to investigate whether individuals who engage in more frequent self-regulation are less susceptible to mental fatigue. Occupational cognitive demand and participation in sports or exercise were quantified as activities requiring self-regulation. Cardiorespiratory fitness was also assessed. On separate occasions, participan...

Objective: Modafinil is a psychostimulant that has been shown to enhance cognitive and physical performance. Given its long half-life, it may provide operational advantages if it can improve tolerance to the deleterious effects of prolonged mental exertion. Methods: Physically active males (n = 13, 23 ± 4 years, peak oxygen consumption 45.3 ± 3....

Objective: To identify and detail physiological factors that influence cognition in military personnel. Background: Maintenance of cognitive and task performance is important under several scenarios, none more so than in a military context. Personnel are prepared for and trained to tolerate many of the stressors they encounter; however, considera...

Objective: In this review we detail the impact of environmental stress on cognitive and military task performance and highlight any individual characteristics or interventions which may mitigate any negative effect. Background: Military personnel are often deployed in regions markedly different from their own, experiencing hot days, cold nights an...

Mental fatigue reflects a change in psychobiological state, caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. It has been well documented that mental fatigue impairs cognitive performance; however, more recently, it has been demonstrated that endurance performance is also impaired by mental fatigue. The mechanism behind the detrimental e...

Introduction: Mental fatigue has consistently been shown to impair endurance performance including both time to exhaustion tasks and self-paced time trials (Van Cutsem et al., 2017). A recent study however, reported that when compared to recreational endurance athletes, professional endurance athletes performed better on a mentally fatiguing task o...

Purpose: Given the important role of the brain in regulating endurance performance, this comparative study sought to determine whether professional road cyclists have superior inhibitory control and resistance to mental fatigue compared to recreational road cyclists. Methods: After preliminary testing and familiarization, eleven professional and...

Performance, physiological and psychological data. (XLSX)

Stroop performance data for professional and recreational road cyclists. (XLSX)

Introduction: Mental fatigue (MF) increases perceived exertion (RPE) and impairs endurance performance in recreationally-trained athletes (Marcora 2009; Pageaux 2014). The effect of MF on elite athletes is unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the performance, physiological and psychological responses of elite cyclists following a bout of men...

Key Points Central fatigue is accepted as a contributor to overall athletic performance, yet little research directly investigates post-exercise recovery strategies targeting the brain Current post-exercise recovery strategies likely impact on the brain through a range of mechanisms, but improvements to these strategies is needed Research is requir...

Mental fatigue can negatively impact on submaximal endurance exercise and has been attributed to changes in perceived exertion rather than changes in physiological variables. The impact of mental fatigue on maximal anaerobic performance is, however, unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to induce a state of mental fatigue to examine...

Nitrate supplementation improves endurance exercise and single bouts of high-intensity activity, but the effect on repeated sprints is unclear. This study is the first to investigate the effects of acute dietary nitrate supplementation during a high-intensity intermittent-sprint test to exhaustion. Team-sport athletes (9 males, age 22.3±2.1 yrs, VO...