Comparing the Effect of Physical, Mental, and Combined Fatigue on Cognitive Abilities and Working Memory Performance

Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi; Maryam Khalaji; Faezeh Khoshdoni Farahani

Koomesh

Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences

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https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-153650

Comparing the Effect of Physical, Mental, and Combined Fatigue on Cognitive Abilities and Working Memory Performance

Author(s):

Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi

^1,*,

Maryam Khalaji²,

Faezeh Khoshdoni Farahani³

11. Associate Professor, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

2Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

3Ph.D Student of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

Koomesh:Vol. 27, issue 3; e153650

Published online:Jun 11, 2025

Article type:Research Article

How to Cite:Shamsipour Dehkordi P, Khalaji M, Khoshdoni Farahani F. Comparing the Effect of Physical, Mental, and Combined Fatigue on Cognitive Abilities and Working Memory Performance.koomesh.2025;27(3):e153650.https://doi.org/10.69107/koomesh-153650.

Abstract

Background: Fatigue refers to the feeling of lack of energy in individuals after prolonged cognitive or physical activity. As one of the limiting factors, it affects the amount of learning and execution of movement skills.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of physical, mental, and combined fatigue on cognitive abilities and working memory.

Methods: The current research was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design in three experimental groups and one control group. Sixty students (with an average age of 25.87 ± 7.53, right-handed, in good general health, with good sleeping habits, and no drug or alcohol consumption) were purposefully selected and randomly divided into four groups: mental fatigue, physical fatigue, mental-physical fatigue, and control. In the pre-test stage, participants completed the Nejati Cognitive Ability Questionnaire and performed the N-BACK test to measure working memory. The Stroop task (for 60 minutes) was used to induce mental fatigue, and physical and sports activities (for 40 minutes) were used to induce physical fatigue. Participants in the experimental groups completed the visual analog scale questionnaire to measure mental fatigue and the Borg fatigue scale to measure physical fatigue before and after applying the fatigue protocol. Forty-eight hours after the pre-test stage, all four groups completed the Nejati Cognitive Ability Questionnaire and performed the N-BACK test.

Results: The results showed that both types of fatigue led to a decrease in cognitive ability and working memory variables (P = 0.001), but this decrease was significantly greater in the mental fatigue and mental-physical fatigue groups than in the physical fatigue group.

Conclusion: Mental and physical fatigue in learning conditions lead to impairment in cognitive ability and working memory, with mental fatigue having a greater impact compared to physical fatigue.

Keywords

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Author(s):

Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi:[PubMed][Scholar]
Maryam Khalaji:[PubMed][Scholar]
Faezeh Khoshdoni Farahani:[PubMed][Scholar]