Acute effects of physical and mental fatigue on time perception in basketball players

Basketball is a fast-paced, cognitively demanding sport in which players must make rapid, time-dependent decisions under physical and mental strain. Despite the well-documented effects of fatigue on performance, its influence on athletes' perception of time remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of physical and mental fatigue on time perception in basketball players.

This cross-sectional study included 34 healthy, volunteer male basketball players. The experimental procedure consisted of a familiarization session followed by two experimental conditions. Mental fatigue was induced using the color-word Stroop test, whereas physical fatigue was elicited through a standardized plyometric exercise protocol. Time perception was assessed before and after each fatigue condition across four target durations (6, 12, 18, and 24 s). A 72-hour recovery period between sessions was implemented to control for potential carryover effects.

A significant time × fatigue × duration interaction was found (p < 0.05), demonstrating that mental and physical fatigue exerted opposite effects on time perception. Mental fatigue resulted in systematic underestimation of time, indicated by negative shifts in time estimation errors across all target durations. In contrast, physical fatigue led to consistent overestimation, reflected by positive shifts in estimation errors. These effects became more pronounced with increasing target duration, with the largest deviations observed at 18 and 24 seconds.

Time perception in basketball is not a fixed mechanism but a dynamic component of performance influenced by transient cognitive and physiological states. Mental fatigue is associated with a compression of perceived time, whereas physical fatigue leads to an expansion of perceived duration. These findings suggest that second-dependent decision-making in basketball is shaped not only by technical and tactical factors but also by fatigue-related states. Integrating fatigue management strategies and time-awareness training into basketball practice and competition may improve temporal accuracy and decision stability under pressure.