Cognitive training involves more than just designing training programs and progressively increasing their intensity. It's essential to keep an eye on how the training affects the brain, ensuring it's neither too strenuous nor too easy.

The Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and its brief variant, PVT-Brief (PVT-B), are trusted tools in sports science. They gauge fatigue by assessing reaction time and counting lapses in attention.

The PVT is available in 3-minute, 5-minute, and 10-minute versions. It's a straightforward method to get a quantifiable read on fatigue. By having someone take the test before and after cognitive training, you can gauge the mental toll of a training session. With time, this provides a clear picture of what's normal for each individual and what's not.

Number of Lapses during the Psychomotor Vigilance Task as an Objective Measure of Fatigue

By performing the PVT or PVT-B test before and after training sessions, we can gain valuable information about an individual's mental fatigue. This immediate feedback helps adjust the intensity of cognitive training, ensuring that the participant is neither under-challenged nor overwhelmed.

In the table below, we compare pre-training and post-training reaction times (in milliseconds) over a 10-day period. The percentage change indicates the difference between the two measurements, reflecting shifts in mental fatigue levels following training sessions

The table underscores the effectiveness of the PVT-B test. When conducted both before and after training, it provides a clear picture of an athlete's mental fatigue levels.

Feedback from the PVT test is crucial for understanding the effects of cognitive load. A significant increase in lapses or a decline in reaction speed after training suggests that the load was sufficient to cause mental fatigue. This concept mirrors physical training: there needs to be adequate stress to drive improvements in speed, fitness, and strength.

From the data presented, it's evident that the individual is grappling with mental fatigue. Their inability to bounce back is clear as the lapse count and reaction times deteriorate. When such a trend emerges, it's essential to reevaluate the training regimen and make necessary adjustments. If this strain is intentional (as might be the case in an "overreaching" phase), it's crucial to decrease the cognitive load at the phase's conclusion to allow for recovery.

The provided tables span four weeks, displaying the athlete's pre-training and post-training reaction times over 30 days. Each week shows variations in reaction times, reflecting the training's impact on cognitive performance. Notably, the consistent return of pre-training reaction times to a nearly identical baseline indicates the athlete's successful recovery between sessions. Furthermore, the trend of post-training times consistently being slower than pre-training times suggests that the training sessions effectively challenged the athlete's cognitive abilities, contributing to cognitive improvement over the 30-day period.

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In these four tables spanning 30 days, we observe a gradual increase in both pre and post-training reaction times. This consistent trend suggests that cognitive performance is being challenged over time. It raises the possibility of mental fatigue or intentional overreaching. If intentional, a strategic recovery phase is essential for effective recuperation and maximizing the benefits of intensive training.

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When there's little to no difference between pre and post-training reaction times (20 milliseconds), it suggests that the cognitive training load might be too light and isn't inducing any significant mental fatigue. In such cases, adjustments might be needed to make the training more challenging.

However, just like physical workouts in the gym, the goal isn't always to push to the limit. If the aim is simply maintenance or to avoid excessive mental fatigue, then a minimal variation in reaction times is perfectly acceptable. The key is to align the training intensity with the desired outcome, whether that's growth through challenge or maintaining current cognitive abilities.

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The PVT or PVT-B stands as an invaluable tool in objectively gauging cognitive load and mental fatigue. To truly harness its potential, it's essential to monitor these metrics consistently, understanding each individual's baseline. If an individual consistently shows similar pre and post PVT results, it might indicate the need to amplify the session's cognitive load to ensure sufficient challenge. However, if their pre PVT remains consistent, but the post PVT reveals slower reactions and increased lapses, it suggests the training load is just right. On the other hand, a consistent rise in both pre and post reaction times and lapse counts throughout a training cycle may signal overtraining or overreaching—indicating a crucial need for planned recovery phases.