Mental fatigue impairs the basketball free-throw performance

Abstract

Mental fatigue has a negative effect on endurance tasks, but little is known about its effect on sports skills precision. The aim of this study was to check if mental stress reduces the free throw effectiveness in basketball. 18 semi-professional players performed the experiment. The experimental group performed the 2-back memory task, while another control group performed the Oddball version of the same test, a version that does not generate fatigue of the central executive. Participants in the experimental group had a lower rate of success than the control group. These results demonstrate the negative influence of mental fatigue on precision skills such as free throw in basketball.