Brain Endurance Training improves endurance and cognitive performance in road cyclists.

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of brain endurance training (BET) on endurance and cognitive performance in road cyclists. Two independent randomized controlled pretest-posttest training studies. In both studies cyclists trained five times/week for six weeks and completed either cognitive response inhibition tasks (Post-BET group) or listened to neutral sounds (control group) after each training session. In Study-1, 26 cyclists performed a time to exhaustion (TTE) test at 80 % peak power output (PPO), followed by a 30-min Stroop task, and a TTE test at 65 % PPO. In Study-2, 24 cyclists performed a 5-min time trial, followed by a 30-min Stroop task, 60-min submaximal incremental test, and a 20-min . Heart rate, lactate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), Stroop reaction time and accuracy were also measured. During Study 1, Post-BET improved TTE at 80 % (p = 0.032) and 65 % PPO (p = 0.011) significantly more than control with lower RPE (all p < 0.043). In Study 2, 5-min TT performance did not differ between groups. During the 60-min submaximal incremental test, RPE was lower in the Post-BET group compared to the control group (p = 0.034) and 20-min TT performance improved significantly more in the Post-BET group than in the control group (all p < 0.031). No group differences were found in physiological measures. In both studies, Stroop reaction times improved significantly more in the Post-BET group than in the control group (all p < 0.033). These findings suggest that Post-BET may be used to improve the performance of road cyclists.