Can Self-Regulatory Strength Training Counter Prior Mental Exertion? A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Sun, He; Soh, Kim Geok; Wazir, Mohd Rozilee Wazir Norjali; Ding, Cong; Xu, Tingting; Zhang, Dong · 2022 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.904374

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Summary

This systematic review investigates whether self-regulatory strength training can counteract the negative effects of prior mental exertion on subsequent physical and cognitive performance. Grounded in the strength model of self-regulation, which posits that self-control relies on a limited, depletable resource analogous to a muscle, the study addresses the gap in existing literature regarding effective interventions. While prior research established that mental exertion leads to "ego depletion" and performance decrements, few studies explored methods to mitigate these effects. The authors aimed to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine if training self-regulatory capacity could improve resilience against mental fatigue. The researchers conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Google Scholar for RCTs published between 1999 and January 2022. Eligibility criteria required studies involving healthy humans, strength-based self-regulation training programs, and subsequent physical or cognitive performance outcomes. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 951 participants, primarily university students. The review employed the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) and the GRADE framework to assess study quality and evidence certainty. Due to heterogeneity in training protocols and outcome measures, a meta-analysis was not performed; instead, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Training interventions varied widely, including posture regulation, mood regulation, non-dominant hand use, financial monitoring, and specific cognitive tasks like the Stroop task, with durations ranging from one week to four months. The results indicated that the majority of included studies reported significant improvements in subsequent performance following self-regulatory strength training. Specifically, training programs effectively countered the decrement in performance typically caused by prior mental exertion. For instance, studies utilizing posture and mood regulation, or cognitive tasks like the Stroop test, showed improved persistence in handgrip tasks and better performance in endurance cycling compared to control groups. Only one study failed to find such improvements. However, the certainty of evidence for these outcomes was graded as low or very low. Risk of bias assessment revealed that six of the twelve studies had a high risk of bias, primarily due to lack of blinding and issues with allocation concealment. The authors conclude that self-regulatory strength is a trainable resource that can mitigate the adverse effects of mental fatigue on both physical and cognitive domains. The findings support the muscle analogy of self-regulation, suggesting that consistent training enhances capacity across different domains, such as emotional and cognitive functions. The review highlights that motivation plays a key role in mobilizing this resource. Despite the promising results, the low certainty of evidence and high risk of bias in many studies underscore the need for future research with rigorous methodologies to clarify the underlying mechanisms of self-regulatory strength and validate these interventions.

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• stress arousal performance