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Introduction: Mental fatigue is a key factor in soccer that can affect physical performance. Mental fatigue protocols based on the Stroop test used in soccer involve extensive time, ranging from 10 to 30 min. Offering a protocol with a shorter duration that is more applicable in ecological situations seems to be an exciting challenge. Objective: To analyze the effects of a mental fatigue induction protocol (2 min Stroop test in its incongruent mode) on decision-making, response time, and technical execution accuracy in soccer players. Methods: A total of 18 semi-elite soccer male players, 25.83 (4.71) years from a Spanish soccer team, participated in this cross-sectional study. The 2 min incongruent Stroop test was used like mental fatigue protocol, followed by a specific analytical soccer task. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the statistical differences. Results: A significant increase in participants’ response time after the fatigue protocol (p < 0.001; r = 0.878) was observed. Regarding the variables of correct decision (p = 0.457; r = 0.031) and technical execution accuracy (p = 1; r < 0.001), no significant differences were found. Additionally, no differences were observed between the first and second attempts of the 2 min incongruent Stroop test, in terms of execution accuracy, errors, or total words. Conclusions: The 2 min Stroop incongruent task may induce some degree of mental fatigue, leading to slower response time during certain technical tasks in semi-elite soccer players. However, this Stroop task was insufficient to promote significant changes in the accuracy of technical execution and the effectiveness of decision-making.

Abstract Physical exercise is one of the treatment approaches with the most robust evidence against fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the impact of being physically active on the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) performance as well as to investigate and compare the brain electrocortical activity during SCWT. A total of 31 women completed the SCWT while EEG was recorded. People with FM were divided into two groups (physically and non-physically active) according to the WHO guidelines. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging was acquired and health-related quality of life, the impact of the disease, and the six-minute walking test were administered. Physically active group showed better performance in the SCWT, exhibiting less error in name different color patches condition (C), more correct responses in named color-word condition (CW) and higher interference score than non-physically active group. Moreover, a significantly higher theta power spectrum in the Fp1 during the condition C in the SCWT and a higher volume in the right rostral middle frontal gyrus have been found in the physically active group. Furthermore, physically active women with FM showed positively correlations between correct responses in names of colors printed in black condition (W) in the SCWT and theta power in the F3, Fz, Fp2 and F4 scalp positions. Regarding non-physically active women with FM, errors in condition CW negatively correlated with the volume of left superior frontal gyrus, left rostral middle frontal gyrus, right rostral middle frontal gyrus, left caudal middle frontal gyrus and right caudal middle frontal gyrus. Furthermore, physically active group showed increased performance in the 6 min walking test and lower disease impact. Fulfil the physical activity recommendation seems to protect brain health since better SCWT performance, greater frontal theta power and higher volume in the right rostral middle frontal gyrus have been found in physically active women with FM.

A total of 16 adults with cerebral palsy (age = 37.50 (7.78)) participated in this cross-sectional study. The electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded under three conditions: (1) baseline; (2) while listening to music; (3) while performing inclusive dance choreography with wheelchair. EEG data was banded into theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz). Significantly higher values of theta, alpha, and beta bands were found in dance conditions than in the baseline. Significant differences between baseline and listening to music conditions were not found in any of the power spectrum bands. Differences between listening to music conditions and inclusive dance with wheelchair were observed in theta and beta power spectrum band studies in the F4 electrode. Inclusive dance with wheelchair increases theta, alpha, and beta power spectra when compared to baseline. In addition, the beta power spectrum is greater only during inclusive dance conditions, which could be modulated by emotions. However, future studies should corroborate this hypothesis.

Background: Fibromyalgia symptoms have a significant impact on the ability to perform activities of daily living. These activities require the ability to perform two or more tasks at the same time, which is known as a dual task. Purpose: To analyze physical and cognitive performance differences between memory and arithmetic dual tasks. Methods: Twenty-five women with fibromyalgia participated in this study. Participants performed three physical tests (back scratch, arm curl, and 10-step stair) as a single task and under two types of dual task (memory and arithmetic). Results: Differences between the single and dual tasks were observed in the back scratch and the 10-step stair tests using the arithmetic dual-task. Significant differences were only observed for the memory dual-task in the 10-step stair test. In addition, the performance in the back scratch and in the 10-step stair was significantly lower under the arithmetic compared to the memory-based dual task. Furthermore, a significant difference between these two types of dual task was obtained in the dual-task cost of 10-step stair. Regarding cognitive performance, a significantly lower percentage of correct responses was found in the AbDT compared to the MbDT in the 10-step stair test. Conclusions: the AbDT could have a higher impact on physical performance than the MbDT during the back scratch and the 10-step stair tests. The characteristics of the sample, environment, complexity of the motor task, and difficulty of the simultaneous cognitive task may also be relevant for understanding the differences in dual-task interference.

People with fibromyalgia could experience physical and cognitive impairments. Furthermore, when performing two tasks at the same time, people with fibromyalgia showed a higher dual-task cost compared to a single task than healthy people. This may result in poorer performance of activities of daily living that are commonly presented as a combination of two or more tasks. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising nonpharmacological therapy. However, there is controversy regarding the intensities and the effectiveness of this therapy. Thus, the present study will aim: (1) to compare the effectiveness and the impact of two tDCS intensities (1 mA and 2 mA) on cognitive, motor, brain functions, and cardiac autonomic modulation; (2) to study the impact of tDCS on the dual-task performance and creativity after applying tDCS in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In this study, 26 women will participate and will be divided into two groups: women with fibromyalgia (n = 13), and healthy controls (n = 13). A reduction in cognitive-motor interference in dual-task performance is expected, as well as a modification in neurophysiological parameters and an improvement in cardiac autonomic modulation. Lastly, no different effects are expected depending on the stimulation intensity applied. The obtained results will help to determine if tDCS in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex could improve the occupational performance of women with fibromyalgia.

(1) Background: Adolescence is a critical stage in the development of healthy habits. In this regard, physical activity has emerged as a useful tool to improve satisfaction with life and health-related quality of life in adolescents. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between satisfaction with life and health-related quality of life in adolescent boys and girls. Also, we aimed to investigate the differences between sexes in the HRQoL, physical activity level, and satisfaction with life. (2) Methods: A total of 297 adolescents, ranging in age from 11 to 12 years (11.46 ± 1.63), participated in this cross-sectional study. The Satisfaction with life scale, Physical activity Questionnaire for Adolescents and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaires were employed. (3) Results: The estimated indirect effect showed that physical activity level was a mediator of the positive effect of satisfaction with life on health-related quality of life (β = 0.105, 95% CI = 0.031; 0.202). However, the index of moderated mediation showed that sex is not a significant moderator of the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between satisfaction with life and HRQoL (β = −0.033, 95% CI = −0.023, 0.136). Furthermore, significant differences in satisfaction with life were found, with girls manifesting lower values (p-value = 0.026). (4) Conclusion: This study shows the importance of physical activity during adolescence and the association of this behavior with the health-related quality of life of adolescents.