title: Combined effects of sleep deprivation and strenuous exercise on cognitive performances during The North Face® Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc® (UTMB®).
abstract: This study investigated the effects of combined sleep deprivation and strenuous exercise on cognitive and neurobehavioral performance among long-distance runners completing one of the most difficult ultramarathons in the world. Seventeen runners participated. Each had a wrist-worn actigraph throughout the race to record their sleep time. In addition, each individual's performance in 10-min response-time tests before and after the race was recorded and a questionnaire enabled participants to report any difficulties they experienced during the competition. During race completion times of 27 to 44 h, combined acute lack of sleep (12 ± 17 min of rest during the race) and strenuous exercise (168.0 km) had marked adverse effects on cognitive performances ranging from mere lengthening of response time to serious symptoms such as visual hallucinations. This study suggests that regardless of rest duration and time in race, cognitive performances of ultramarathoners are adversely affected.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratoire URePSSS-ReLACS , Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale , Dunkerque , France.
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurdiel
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pezé
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daugherty
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poussel
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poletti
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Basset
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Theunynck
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: individual differences; performance; sleep; ultraendurance