Soma: New Research - Cognitive Performance in Fatigued Football Players
Soma Technologies
Expanding professional athletes’ cognitive and physical limits through neuroscience.
We’re pleased to share the results of a new study conducted with Soma, focusing on Cognitive Performance in Fatigued Football Players. This research provides valuable insights into how Brain Endurance Training (BET) can enhance both technical skills and cognitive resilience under fatigue in professional soccer players.
Study Overview:
Objectives: This study examined whether Brain Endurance Training (BET)—which combines mentally demanding cognitive tasks with regular physical training—can improve soccer players’ cognitive and technical performance when fatigued, compared to physical training alone.
Design: A pre/training/midtest/training/posttest design was used.
Methods:
Participants: 31 professional male soccer players were divided into BET and control groups.
Training: Over 6 weeks, both groups completed 18 physical training sessions. The BET group also engaged in cognitive tasks during training, while the control group rested.
Testing: Performance was measured using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) and Shooting Test (LSST) before and after a 30-minute Stroop task that induced mental fatigue. Additional assessments included the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT-B), mental fatigue ratings (MF-VAS), and perceived exertion (RPE).
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Key Findings:
Passing Accuracy: The BET group improved their passing accuracy by 5% under fatigue, while the control group’s performance declined.
Shooting Accuracy: BET participants saw a 10% increase in shooting accuracy under fatigue, in contrast to a decline in the control group.
Cognitive Performance: Reaction times in the BET group improved by 7%, indicating enhanced cognitive resilience under stress, unlike the control group, which showed no significant changes.
Perceived Mental Fatigue: Despite reporting a 29% increase in perceived mental fatigue, BET participants maintained their performance, showcasing improved fatigue management.
The findings reveal that Brain Endurance Training (BET) is more effective than physical training alone at enhancing both cognitive and technical performance under fatigue. This research could have significant implications for optimizing training methods in professional sports.
If you're interested in a deeper dive into the research, please reply email [email protected], and we will be happy to send you the full paper. Alternatively, if you’re ready to get started with Soma, click below to schedule a call.