Fatigue and Human Performance: An Updated Framework
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01748-2
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Summary
This narrative review addresses the inconsistent definitions of fatigue across scientific disciplines, which have hindered progress in understanding the psychophysiology of human performance. Building upon the 2016 framework by Enoka and Duchateau, the authors propose an updated taxonomy and mechanistic model to clarify the distinctions between trait fatigue (long-term, disease-associated) and state fatigue (acute, task-induced). The primary objective is to refine the definition of motor and cognitive task-induced state fatigue, incorporating previously overlooked determinants such as effort perception, affective valence, self-regulation, and time perception, while explicitly integrating cognitive fatigue into the framework. The authors define motor or cognitive task-induced state fatigue as a psychophysiological condition characterized by a decrease in objective performance (performance fatigue) and/or an increased subjective perception of fatigue (perceived fatigue). The review synthesizes existing literature to discuss the mechanisms underlying these dimensions. Motor performance fatigue is attributed to neural factors (e.g., reduced motor cortex excitability, altered corticospinal transmission) and muscular factors (e.g., impaired contractile function due to metabolite accumulation, specifically inorganic phosphate and reactive oxygen species). Perceived motor fatigue is analyzed through a three-dimensional dynamical system framework comprising perceptual-discriminatory (effort and pain perception), affective-motivational (valence and arousal), and cognitive-evaluative (self-regulation and executive function) dimensions. These dimensions are described as interdependent rather than hierarchical. Key findings indicate that performance and perceived fatigue are interdependent but hinge on different determinants and are modulated by factors such as age, sex, disease status, and task characteristics. For instance, older adults often exhibit less motor performance fatigue during submaximal isometric contractions due to slower contractile properties, whereas females generally show less fatigue than males in slow-velocity tasks due to physiological differences like higher type I fiber percentage. The review highlights that perceived fatigue is significantly influenced by homeostatic perturbations (e.g., hyperthermia, hypoxia) and cognitive processes like self-control, which regulate pacing behavior. Furthermore, the authors note that while motor fatigue mechanisms are well-characterized, the psychophysiological underpinnings of cognitive fatigue remain less clear, though potentially serving as a protective mechanism to redirect behavior. The significance of this updated framework lies in its ability to resolve definitional ambiguities and provide a comprehensive structure for future research. By distinguishing between performance and perceived fatigue and identifying their specific determinants and modulating factors, the model facilitates a more nuanced understanding of how fatigue impacts human performance in both healthy and clinical populations. The authors conclude that combined monitoring of performance and perceived fatigue, along with investigation into their underlying mechanisms, is essential for developing effective interventions to mitigate fatigue-induced declines in motor and cognitive capacity and quality of life.
Provenance
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| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | OpenAlex-citations | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| archive | success | unpaywall | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-25 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-19 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.
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