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Acute Mental Fatigue and Muscle Strength

Sponsor: Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07846618

Registry updated: 2026-09-29

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Description

This study will investigate the acute effects of mental fatigue on lower-extremity muscle strength and limb symmetry in healthy young adults. Participants will complete lower-extremity strength testing before and after a standardized computer-based mental fatigue protocol involving tasks of attention, reaction time, concentration, and working memory. Muscle strength and limb symmetry will be assessed using isokinetic dynamometry, with muscle activity measured using surface electromyography. Participants will also complete subjective measures of mental fatigue, sleepiness, mental effort, and perceived physical exertion. Heart rate will be monitored throughout the study, and brain activity may be assessed during cognitive tasks. The study will determine whether acute mental fatigue is associated with changes in muscle strength, limb symmetry, and neuromuscular performance.

Interventions

Computer-Based Mental Fatigue Protocol (Other)
Participants will complete approximately 30 minutes of standardized computer-based cognitive tasks designed to induce acute mental fatigue. The tasks require sustained attention, concentration, reaction time, working memory, and mental effort and may include the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), incongruent Stroop task, and n-back task. Participants will complete the mental fatigue protocol after baseline strength testing and before the post-intervention strength assessment. Subjective mental fatigue and sleepiness will be assessed before and after the intervention, and perceived mental effort will be assessed following the intervention.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18-39 years 2. Able to produce maximal force against Biodex protocol 3. Able to perform required lower extremity movements through range of motion necessary for Biodex protocol 4. No known cognitive impairment 5. Sufficient musculoskeletal health to complete the tasks Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of a neurological disorder, disease, or cognitive impairment that may affect cognition, motor control, reaction time, or force production 2. History of musculoskeletal injury affecting the lower extremities within the past 6 months 3. History of lower extremity surgery affecting force production of the hip, knee, or ankle 4. Color-vision impairment 5. Significant visual or hearing impairment 6. History of migraine headaches 7. Current significant sleep disturbances or sleep deprivation 8. Head injury that may affect cognitive function 9. Medical condition affecting ability to produce maximal force safely 10. Allergy to adhesive tape, parabens, or propylene glycol 11. Scalp lacerations, open wounds, or sutures on the scalp 12. Cranial surgery or skull defects 13. History of unexplained dizziness or fainting in the past 6 months 14. Individuals who are pregnant, prisoners, or not yet adults 15. Inability to communicate with investigators 16. Inability to provide written informed consent

Conditions

Mental Fatigue Muscle Strength Dynamometer

Locations

Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition — Pensacola, Florida, United States

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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