Conference PaperPDF Available

Impact of 4-week Brain Endurance Training (BET) on Cognitive and Physical Performance in Professional Football Players: 3504 Board #192 June 1 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

June 2019
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 51(Supplement):964

DOI:10.1249/01.mss.0000563395.36093.aa

Conference: ACSM
At: Orlando

Authors:

Walter Staiano

University of Valencia

Michele Merlini

University of Kent

Chiara Gattoni

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Samuele M Marcora

University of Bologna

INTRODUCTION: It has been hypostasized that acute negative effect of mental fatigue (MF) could potentially become a training stimulus for the brain (Brain endurance training [BET]) to adapt and improve its ability to better sustain or attenuate MF states during sport competitions. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of BET to reduce fatigue during a battery of cognitive and physical tests in players from a professional football team. We hypothesized that combination of BET and standard physical training during a 4-week period would increase cognitive capacity and physical football performance by increasing resilience to fatigue, more than standard football training alone. METHODS: 22 professional football players were randomly assigned to 2 different training groups: BET and Control. Both groups completed 20 supervised physical training sessions. Immediately after each session BET group completed on average 400 min (20 min/session) of cognitive training. Control group, instead, was asked to listen to neutral music for the same amount of time. Endurance performance (30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test), Sprint and Decision Making (RSA Random Test), Reactive Agility alongside with cognitive performance (STROOP and PVT Task) were measured at baseline (pre-test) and after 4 weeks of training (post-test). Data were analyzed using mixed model ANOVAs. RESULTS: STROOP and PVT task showed reaction time in both groups decreased at post-test. However, BET decreased significantly more compared to control group (p < 0.02) despite no significant differences in accuracy. BET group completed the reactive agility test significantly faster than the control group (p < 0.05) and with lesser fouls (p < 0.03). During the RSA Random Test no significant differences were found between the groups for linear acceleration phase (first 10 m). However, BET group completed significantly faster (p < 0.05) the decisional phase (second 10 m). Distance covered during the 30-15 test showed there was no difference in the performance of the BET group. However, control group showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in performance. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide evidence that the combination of BET and standard football training is more effective than standard training alone in boosting cognitive and physical performance in elite football players.

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•Perception of effort is a limiting factor for Football

performance in highly-motivated individuals (Smith et al.,

2018; Staiano et al., 2018)

•Perception of effort is associated with activity of the

anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (Williamson et al., 2001;

2002; Staiano et al. unpublished results), not afferent feedback

from the body (Marcora, 2009)

•Damage of the ACC is associated with changes in effort-

based decision-making (rats become “lazy”) (Walton et al.,

2002)

•Mentally fatiguing tasks based on visual and audio stimuli

strongly activate the ACC (Boksem and Tops, 2008)

•The brain adapts to various stimuli and stressors by changing

its structure and function (brain plasticity) (Kolb, 1995)

ABSTRACT HYPOTHESES

INTRODUCTION: It has been hypostasized that acute negative effect of

mental fatigue (MF) could potentially become atraining stimulus for

the brain (Brain endurance training [BET]) to adapt and improve its

ability to better sustain or attenuate MF states during sport

competitions.The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of BET to

reduce fatigue during abattery of cognitive and physical tests in

players from aprofessional football team.We hypothesized that

combination of BET and standard physical training during a 4-week

period would increase cognitive capacity and physical football

performance by increasing resilience to fatigue, more than standard

football training alone.METHODS:22 professional football players

were randomly assigned to 2different training groups:BET and

Control.Both groups completed 20 supervised physical training

sessions.Immediately after each session BET group completed on

average 400 min (20 min/session) of cognitive training.Control group,

instead, was asked to listen to neutral music for the same amount of

time.Endurance performance (30-15 Intermittent Fitness Te st) , Sprint

and Decision Making (RSA Random Test), Reactive Agility alongside

with cognitive performance (STROOP and PVT Task)were measured at

baseline (pre-test) and after 4weeks of training (post-test).Data were

analyzed using mixed model ANOVAs. RESULTS: STROOP and PVT task

showed reaction time in both groups decreased at post-test.However,

BET decreased significantly more compared to control group (p <

0.02)despite no significant differences in accuracy.

BET group completed the reactive agility test significantly faster than

the control group (p < 0.05)and with lesser fouls (p < 0.03). During

the RSA Random Test no significant differences were found between

the groups for linear acceleration phase (first 10 m). However,BET

group completed significantly faster (p < 0.05)the decisional phase

(second 10 m).Distance covered during the 30-15 test showed there

was no difference in the performance of the BET group.However,

control group showed asignificant decrease (p < 0.05)in

performance.CONCLUSION:The results of this study provide evidence

that the combination of BET and standard football training is more

effective than standard training alone in boosting cognitive and

physical performance in elite football players.

RATIONALE

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS CONCLUSIONS AND DIRECTIONS

BET seems highly effective in improving football performance when

combined with traditional physical training in professional players

Those results confirmed a previous study proving efficacy of BET in

boosting cycling performance.

BET increases inhibitory control & continuous sustained attention ability

BET could be used to increase training load in elite athletes without

overloading the musculoskeletal system (injury prevention)

BET could be used in injured athletes that cannot perform physical

training

Beware overtraining (increased load on the brain)

Future studies:

BET in females elite athletes and/or in different sports.

Optimisation of BET (volume, intensity, frequency, duration)

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying positive effects of BET on

perception of effort on sport performance.

REFERENCES

•Boksem, MA.Tops, M.(2008) Mental fatigue: costs and benefits. Brain Res

R e v. Nov;59(1):125-39.

•Kolb, B. (1995). Brain plasticity and behavior. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

•Smith, M.R., Thompson, C., Marcora, S.M. et al. Mental Fatigue and Soccer:

Current Knowledge and Future Directions, Sports Med (2018) 48: 1525.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0908-2

•Staiano et al. (2018) The cardinal exercise stopper: Muscle fatigue, muscle

pain or perception of effort? Prog. Brain Res.

•Marcora, S. (2009). Perception of effort during exercise is independent of

afferent feedback from skeletal muscles, heart, and lungs. Journal of

Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md.: 1985), 106(6), 2060-2062.

•Walton M, Bannerman D, Rushworth M. (2002). The role of rat medial frontal

cortex in effort-based decision making. J Neurosci, 22: 10996–11003.

•Williamson, J.W., Mccoll, R., Mathews, D., Mitchell, J.H., Raven, P.B.,

Morgan, W.P., (2001). Hypnotic Manipulation Of Effort Sense During Dynamic

Exercise: Cardiovascular Responses And Brain Activation. J Appl Physiol, 90,

1392-1399.

•Marcora SM, Staiano W, Merlini M, editors. A randomised controlled trial of

Brain Endurance Training (BET) to reduce fatigue during endurance exercise.

62nd Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine; 2015 May

26–30; San Diego (USA): American College of Sports Medicine.

ACKNOLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank SSWITCH NPS company for providing

the application for the training protocol (SOMA NPT)

Systematic repetition of mentally fatiguing tasks:

•increases training load on the brain

•induces adaptations relevant cortical areas

•reduces perception of effort

•Increases resilience toward fatigue

•Increases sport performance

COGNITIVE AND PERCEPTUAL RESULTS

Dr. Walter Staiano1; Michele Merlini2; Chiara Gattoni 2, Prof. Samuele Marcora2

1. University of Southern Denmark, SDU (DEN) ; 2. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kent (UK)

IMPACT OF 4-WEEK BRAIN ENDURANCE TRAINING (BET) ON COGNITIVE

AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Changes in RAT induced by SOMA BET and traditional physical training

# Significant changes at post-test (P< 0.05)

METHODS

Study Design

Using arandomized controlled trial design, we assess the efficacy of BET +

traditional football training (SOMA BET Training) against traditional football

training only (Control) in aprofessional football team during pre-season

period.We randomly allocated 22 male subjects to either SOMA BET training

or Control.Participants were tested at baseline (pre-test) and after four weeks

of training (post-test).

Training Procedures

•Participants allocated to the SOMA training group undertook the normal

training routine.On top of the physical training, at the end of each training

session they completed aspecific cognitive task (players could choose

between 5different tasks to complete) for atime between 20 and 30 min

(from 3to 5times aweek).

•Participants allocated to the control group performed the normal training

routine without performing any cognitive task (traditional physical training).

However, to avoid any biased results as control group was not performing

any specific cognitive training, they were asked to listen to aspecific sound

at the end of each training session (for the same amount of time as SOMA

training group).

•For both groups, during the 4-week training, between 20 and 25 training

sessions have been completed.The SOMA training group completed on

average 400 min of cognitive training during the 4-week period.Sessional

RPE, HR and NASA-TLX Scale were used to measure training load and the

subjective workload of each of the training sessions.

Testing Procedures

•All participants were familiarized with the testing procedures and protocols

•Battery of cognitive test:STROOP and PVT

•Physical Tests :30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (IFT) Test, Repeated Sprint

Ability -RSA-and Specific Reactive Agility tests (RAT)

•HR, Blood Lactate and RPE were measured for all physical tests.

Changes in 30-15 IFT induced by SOMA BET and traditional physical training

# Significant changes at post-test (P< 0.05)

Changes in RSA induced by SOMA BET and traditional physical training

# Significant changes at post-test (P< 0.05)

Changes in PVT reaction time and numbers of errors

induced by SOMA BET and traditional physical training

# Significant changes at post-test (P< 0.05)

Changes in STROOP reaction time and accuracy

induced by SOMA BET and traditional physical training

# Significant changes at post-test (P< 0.05)

Weekly rating of mental demand of SOMA BET and traditional physical training

# Significant changes at post-test (P< 0.05)

Global practitioner assessment and management of mental fatigue and mental recovery in high‐performance sport: A need for evidence‐based best‐practice guidelines

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Mental fatigue: Costs and benefits

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A framework for mental fatigue is proposed, that involves an integrated evaluation of both expected rewards and energetical costs associated with continued performance. Adequate evaluation of predicted rewards and potential risks of actions is essential for successful adaptive behaviour. However, while both rewards and punishments can motivate to engage in activities, both types of motivated behaviour are associated with energetical costs. We will review findings that suggest that the nucleus accumbens, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, insula and anterior cingulate cortex are involved evaluating both the potential rewards associated with performing a task, as well as assessing the energetical demands involved in task performance. Behaviour will only proceed if this evaluation turns out favourably towards spending (additional) energy. We propose that this evaluation of predicted rewards and energetical costs is central to the phenomenon of mental fatigue: people will no longer be motivated to engage in task performance when energetical costs are perceived to outweigh predicted rewards.

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Mental Fatigue and Soccer: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Jan 1995
SPORTS MED
1525

B Kolb
Erlbaum
M R Smith
C Thompson
S M Marcora

• Kolb, B. (1995). Brain plasticity and behavior. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. • Smith, M.R., Thompson, C., Marcora, S.M. et al. Mental Fatigue and Soccer: Current Knowledge and Future Directions, Sports Med (2018) 48: 1525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0908-2