Principal investigators:
Partners:
- Laboratory of Applied Biology; Research Unit in Applied Neurophysiology; Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Endurance Research Group of University of Kent
- Department of Biomedical Science and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM) of the University of Bologna
- The Active Brain Research Group at the University of Canberra
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
Goal: The aim of this line of research is to discover the mechanisms of physical and mental fatigue, and the link with the brain.
Short summary: Fatigue - fatigue, exhaustion, drowsiness - describes a physical and/or mental state of fatigue and lack of energy. Fatigue can be caused by many triggers such as exercise, medical conditions, lifestyle, work related issues, but also by emotions and stress. Fatigue as a result of exercise is caused by a complex interaction between peripheral (muscles) and central (central nervous system) factors. It is a fact that there is an important role for the brain (and its neurotransmitters) in this form of fatigue, but at the same time there is also a lack of evidence as to what exactly that role should be. Mental fatigue is also caused in the brain. It can be defined as a psychobiological state caused by prolonged cognitive effort, which goes hand in hand with the experience of mental fatigue and/or a decrease in cognitive and physical performance. Sports science recently provided some further insights into the link between mental fatigue and physical performance. Endurance and psychomotor skills seem to be the physical components that are most influenced by mental fatigue. However, the mechanisms behind this have not yet been unravelled.
Recent output: