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    Mitigation of the impact of cognitive fatigue on simple motor performance by phytochemicals : the effect of a blackcurrant supplement : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2014) Ratlidge, Rebecca
    Cognitive fatigue can be brought on by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity which has been found to impair both cognitive and physical performance. Phytochemical supplementation can result in improvements in both cognitive and physical performance. However, the ability for phytochemical supplementation to reduce the effects cognitive fatigue has on subsequent physical performance has not been investigated. Therefore, the present study examined the effects that phytochemicals from a blackcurrant supplement had in reducing the effects of cognitive fatigue on simple motor performance. Sixty healthy participants completed 75 minutes of a vigilance task (cognitive fatigue) or 75 minutes of watching an emotionally neutral documentary (control). Half of the participants in each condition also received a blackcurrant supplement (3.2mg/kg) 1 hour before beginning the experimental session. Following the 75 minutes of time-on-task participants completed mood and motivation questionnaires as well as four motor tasks. Analyses revealed the vigilance task was successful in inducing cognitive fatigue, but this had little effect on subsequent motor performance compared to controls. Further analyses revealed the blackcurrant supplement had little influence on either cognitive or motor performance, although the lack of an effect of cognitive fatigue on motor performance made this finding difficult to interpret. Effect size calculations indicated that a larger sample would have likely resulted in statistically significant findings for the majority of the motor tasks. It is concluded that for the specific tasks used in the present study, cognitive fatigue did not impair subsequent motor performance. Nor did the blackcurrant supplement, at the dose used, enhance motor performance following cognitive fatigue. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed and some potentially useful future studies outlined.
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    The amelioration of the impact of physical fatigue on cognitive performance by phytochemicals : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2016) McKenzie, Olivia
    Fatigue is common in everyday life. It is experienced as either cognitive or physical fatigue, both of which are intertwined. Researchers are interested in investigating the ability of phytochemical supplementation to improve cognitive performance by diminishing the effects of physical fatigue. The results thus far have been highly inconsistent (Brisswalter & Arcelin, 1997). The present study examined the effects of phytochemical supplementation utilising a daily dose of 240 mg of blackcurrant extract, a berry fruit high in phytochemicals but under-researched compared to other berry fruits, such as blueberries. Fifty healthy participants completed two 3-hour trials, the first during Week 1 and the second 6 weeks later. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to the blackcurrant supplement group, the supplement being consumed each day over the 6-week period. Each trial consisted of five cognitive tests followed by a tailored HIIT cycle test. The purpose of the HIIT was to induce physical fatigue and took less than 10 min overall. Cognitive tasks and mood questionnaires were completed pre and post consumption of the supplement at both Week 1 and Week 6. Participants received the blackcurrant supplement 1 hour before post task measurements were completed. Analyses demonstrated that the blackcurrant supplementation had no influence on cognitive performance. However, it is questionable as to whether the degree of physical fatigue induced was sufficient to negatively influence cognitive performance, even though previous studies had found it to be so. Overall, it was concluded that blackcurrant supplementation taken across 6 weeks did not facilitate cognitive performance after physical fatigue. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed, including ways for future research to move forward.