Effect of Cognitive‐Motor Dual‐Task Training on Sustained Attention Performance and Neuromuscular Fatigue During Incremental Cycling in Trained Athletes

Intense cognitive-motor dual-tasks (CMDTs) typically induce central nervous system fatigue and reduce cognitive performance, even in individuals with high fitness levels. We aimed to explore the efficiency of CMDT training in preventing central fatigue and cognitive performance decline in such scenarios. Forty trained adults were randomly assigned to one of three high-intensity interval training (HIIT) groups (4 weeks, 2 sessions/week): cycling alone (HIIT_CTRL), cycling with cognitive training during low (HIIT_DTL), or high-intensity intervals (HIIT_DTH). Each training session consisted of 4 × 6 min self-selected intervals based on perceived effort (3 min "very strong", 3 min "very low"). Before and after training, participants completed an incremental cycling cognitive test (ICCT) until reaching task failure (TF). Sustained attention Mackworth score, knee-extensor neuromuscular peripheral (e.g., peak twitch) and central (voluntary activation, VA) indices, prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation, cycling and mental perceived efforts were assessed at each stage. Data were interpolated at 20%-40%-60%-80% relative to TF pretraining (TF_PRE). All groups increased ICCT endurance time after training (+3.0 ± 4.2 min, p < 0.001). After training, the Mackworth score increased at rest, 80% and TF_PRE (+11% ± 2%, p < 0.001), alongside similar PFC oxygenation patterns (p = 0.13), whatever the group. HIIT_DTL and HIIT_DTH mitigated VA decline at TF_PRE (+4.5% ± 3.6% and +5.0% ± 3.7%, respectively, p < 0.001) compared to HIIT_CTRL (+0.9% ± 4.0%). HIIT_DTL and HIIT_DTH reduced mental effort after training throughout the ICCT (-14 ± 11 and -19 ± 12, p ≤ 0.002) compared to HIIT_CTRL (-6 ± 13). Whereas a traditional HIIT program was associated with improvements in sustained attention alongside gains in endurance performance, CMDT-specific training more effectively mitigated central fatigue and reduced perceived mental effort during challenging CMDT scenarios.