Abstract
Purpose: It is important to understand the effects of fatigue on decision-making and how it impacts movement control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mental and physical fatigue on brain activity during creative decision-making in skilled football players.
Methods: The study utilized an intra-group design in the form of a time series. The research method was semi-experimental and applied in nature. Eighteen football players from Tehran City in the Tehran Premier League (mean age 18-30) participated in this research. Mental fatigue was induced through Stroop exercises, and physical fatigue was induced using the Bruce protocol. Electroencephalography was recorded while participants watched clips of real football scenes and made creative decisions in blocked situations. Data analysis was conducted using variance analysis with repeated measures at a significance level of P≤0.05.
Results: Creative decision-making during mental and physical fatigue was found to be lower compared to decision-making without fatigue. The alpha wave power decreased during mental fatigue and increased during physical fatigue when compared to decision-making without fatigue.
Conclusion: Coaches and sports researchers should monitor and pay attention to the perception of mental and physical fatigue levels, as well as their effects on decision-making and brain activity in football players.
Main Subjects