Elite Cyclists and Brain Fatigue Resistance

In a Brain Post from 2012 I reviewed a study of fatigue in elite athletic performance. This study supported a key role in the brain insula in regulating the perception of exercise-induced fatigue. You can access this post by clicking HERE.

An update on this topic was recently published in PloS One by a research team in Australia.

This study compared performance on a cognitive task after extreme 20 minute cycling time trial. Professional cyclists were compared to recreational cyclists on the Stroop test that requires inhibitory control.

The results of the study were that elite cyclists performed significantly better on the Stroop test (more correct responses) following exercise than non-elite cyclists. This is indicative of a greater resistance effects of fatigue on brain performance.

The authors note in the discussion section:

"These finding suggest that successful endurance performance may require superior inhibitory control and resistance to mental fatigue."

This resistance to mental fatigue at high levels of exercise may be a key component in successful performance at the elite level.

Inhibitory control has been shown to have a significant genetic association and to be stable over time. It is possible that training interacts with genetic factors to produce brain fatigue resistance in the elite cyclist population.

Readers with more interest in this topic can access the free full-text research manuscript by clicking on the PMID link in the citation below.

Follow the author on Twitter HERE.

Photo of non-elite cyclist participating in triathlon is from the author's files. 


Martin K, Staiano W, Menaspà P, Hennessey T, Marcora S, Keegan R, Thompson KG, Martin D, Halson S, & Rattray B (2016). Superior Inhibitory Control and Resistance to Mental Fatigue in Professional Road Cyclists. PloS one, 11 (7) PMID: 27441380