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Subject: search.filters.subject.Mental fatigue

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    Fruit modulation of the effects of fatigue on cognitive performance : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Peart, Natalie
    Cognitive fatigue hinders performance in social, academic and physical environments and has a profound effect on the ability of a person to function and make decisions. Research into reducing or eliminating cognitive fatigue and its effects have been largely inconclusive but an emerging area of research is focussing on phytochemicals effects on optimising cognition. The present study examined the effects of blackcurrant supplementation on cognitive fatigue and physical markers of performance. This required 11mg of freeze-dried blackcurrant powder and water mixture to be consumed by participants before completing a psychometric and exercise test. Blackcurrants are a high source of phytochemicals but are under-researched compared to other berry fruit, such as blueberries. Sixty participants completed two sessions which composed of a familiarisation session and an intervention session. Participants were randomly assigned to the blackcurrant supplementation or the control group. Each session consisted of six blocks of the Stroop test, a Standard VO2max test and followed by a post-exercise Stroop test. The purpose of the Standard VO2max test to exhaustion was to induce physical and cognitive fatigue. At the intervention session, participants ingested either a blackcurrant or sugar-controlled juice one hour before testing. Analyses demonstrated that the blackcurrant supplement had no effect on cognitive performance or physical markers. However, it was questionable as to whether the study had enough statically power to test for the small effect sizes due to participants being unable to complete testing and some data sets unable to be used. Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and high doses of anthocyanin to observe if blackcurrant can have cognitive and physiological effects.
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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.