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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Comparison of Kinetic Characteristics of Footwork during Stroke in Table Tennis: Cross-Step and Chasse Step
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Mental Fatigue-Associated Decrease in Table Tennis Performance: Is There an Electrophysiological Signature?

Jelle Habay1,2, Matthias Proost1,2, Jonas De Wachter1,2

  • 1Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|December 24, 2021
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mental fatigue (MF) impairs table tennis performance by slowing reaction times, particularly with inhibitory stimuli. Brainwave analysis revealed changes in alpha and theta bands, suggesting underlying neural mechanisms.

Keywords:
electroencephalographyevent related potentialsmental fatiguetable tennisvisuomotor performance

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Psychophysiology

Background:

  • Mental fatigue (MF) negatively affects cognitive and physical performance, but its specific impact on open-skill sports like table tennis (TT) requires further investigation.
  • Existing research on MF in sports lacks brain-based measurements to elucidate underlying mechanisms.
  • Table tennis performance may be particularly susceptible to MF due to its complex visuomotor demands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of experimentally induced mental fatigue on table tennis-specific visuomotor performance.
  • To explore the neural correlates of mental fatigue during a sport-specific task using electroencephalography (EEG).
  • To determine if mental fatigue impacts reaction time and brain activity in experienced table tennis players.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, counterbalanced crossover trial involving 11 experienced table tennis players.
  • Participants underwent a mental fatigue (MF) condition (Stroop task) and a control condition (documentary viewing).
  • Primary outcomes included reaction time on a sport-specific visuomotor task and EEG spectral power and event-related potentials (ERPs).

Main Results:

  • The MF condition successfully induced subjective mental fatigue (p < 0.001) without significant behavioral changes in standard cognitive tasks.
  • Mental fatigue significantly worsened reaction time on the visuomotor task, especially when responding to inhibitory stimuli.
  • EEG analysis showed MF influenced spectral power (decreased upper alpha and theta bands), but ERPs remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

  • Mental fatigue negatively impacts table tennis performance, specifically affecting the ability to process inhibitory stimuli during visuomotor tasks.
  • Changes in alpha and theta band activity suggest neural mechanisms underlying MF's detrimental effects on sport-specific performance.
  • This study provides crucial insights into the psychobiological impact of mental fatigue on complex motor skills in athletes.