Mental fatigue impairs technical performance and alters neuroendocrine and autonomic responses in elite young basketball players

This study investigated the effects of mental exertion on Small-Sided-Games (SSG) technical performance, salivary testosterone (T), cortisol (C), and alpha-amylase (sAA) responses in 32 basketball players (15.2 ± 1.2 years; 180 ± 11 cm; 72 ± 15 kg). Technical performance and heart rate (HR) were assessed on two occasions, preceded by a 30-min incongruent Stroop task (mentally exertion treatment) or a 30-min control treatment. Saliva samples were collected before and after the treatment and after the SSG, and ratings of perceived exertion (session-RPE) was assessed. Large increase was observed from pre-control treatment to post-SSG for T (ES = 0.98) and sAA (ES = 0.82), but there was a small difference from pre-Stroop-task to post-SSG in T (ES = 0.33) and a moderate difference for sAA (ES = 0.55). Small changes in C for both conditions were observed (ES = 0.00 and 0.15, respectively). There were small differences between treatments for session-RPE (ES = 0.07), maximum (ES = -0.35) and average HR (ES = -0.16). Increased turnovers during the SSG (ES = 0.71) was seen following the Stroop task. The data suggest that mental fatigue state is a key regulator of technical performance of basketball players and that mental fatigue seems to modulate endocrine and autonomic responses.