Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Relationship between Resting-State EEG Indices and Changes in Executive Function and Mental Fatigue Following a 30-Minute Stroop Task

Document Type : Original research

Authors
1 1. Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sports Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Cognitive fatigue can be associated with decreased executive control and altered brain oscillatory activity, but the sensitivity of resting-state EEG indices to short-term changes in performance and fatigue is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the continuous association of executive function changes and perceived fatigue with the absolute power of EEG bands in frontal and central regions after a 30-minute Stroop task. Methodology: Twenty-two healthy students (11 females and 11 males; age 24.95±2.84 years) participated in the study. Executive function was measured with the CANTAB test suite and perceived fatigue with a VAS before and after the task. Resting-state EEG was recorded after the task at F3, F4, Fz, and Cz. Total executive function change score and fatigue change were analyzed continuously in linear mixed models with random-origin width for the individual. Beta2 and theta-to-beta ratio were analyzed by natural logarithm transformation due to severe skewness, and p-values ​​were corrected by the Benjamini–Hochberg method. Results: Data were complete for all 22 subjects. Change in executive function was moderately correlated with change in fatigue (r=0.430, p=0.046). For the main outcomes, the overall association of change in executive function with log2 beta (F(1,20)=0.234, p=0.634, q=0.866) and log theta-to-beta ratio (F(1,20)=0.029, p=0.866, q=0.866) was not significant, and their interaction with electrode was also not significant. In exploratory analyses, the fatigue × electrode change interaction was significant for beta (F(3,60)=5.778, p=0.0015, q=0.0039, partial R²=0.224) and SMR/beta1 (F(3,60)=6.724, p=0.00055, q=0.0027, partial R²=0.252).
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 September 2026

  • Receive Date 09 May 2026
  • Revise Date 01 September 2026
  • Accept Date 04 September 2026