Ever heard of the brain is a muscle and you have to exercise it? Because mental fatigue is a real thing and often it, in of itself, can be hinderance to physical endurance. However, Brain Endurance Training (BET) is a form of combined mental endurance training with physical training to challenge the brain, thus increasing exhaustion tolerance of the mind.
Published in Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, researchers explored the effect of Post-BET, performing cognitively-demanding task after a training session, in two independent randomized controlled studies.
In both studies, researchers recruited elite male cyclists completing training sessions 5 times per week for 6 weeks. After each training session, the cyclists performed one of three cognitively demanding tasks to exhaust the brain and a controlled group that listened to neutral sounds.
In the first study, of 26 cyclists, the time subjects spent in cognitive training increased from 30 minutes (weeks1-2) to 45 minutes (weeks 3-4) and then finally to 60 minutes (weeks 5-6). This helped maintain an exhausting cognitive load by preventing the brain from adapting to the training. Physical endurance was analyzed via time-to-exhaustion test on stationary bike at either 80% Peak Power Output (PPO) or 65% PPO.
The second study was performed similarly but instead of changing the time spent doing the exercise, researchers kept the time the same and increased the difficulty. Physical endurance performance was analyzed using a 5 or 20 minute time trial (TT).
In the physical performance realm, the results showed cyclists increased stamina by 11.4% for the 80% PPO and 17.1% for the 65% PPO. Also, in the 20-minute time trial, power improved by 5.5% and distance by 4%.
In the cognitive realm, study 1 improved reaction time by 19% and study 2 improved reaction time by 9%.
Additionally, there was no improvement in VO2 max, heart rate, or blood lactate, showing that the physical improvements were rooted in mental changes from post-BET.
How many time have you attempted to improve physical performance by working harder without a second thought to brain training? The mind is an undertrained, undervalue tool in improving physical performance. But the fact remains in the fact that the body first and foremost does what the mind tells it to do. Therefore, do not neglect the mind, and the care of it, as all of our actions flow from thought first.
W Staiano et al. Brain endurance training improves endurance and cognitive performance in road cyclists. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2023.05.008
