Brain endurance training may keep reactions quick when tired, but the evidence is mixed.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   438 healthy people took part in 11 trials, aged 14 to 78. Some were competitive athletes, and others were recreationally active or untrained.

2. 02

   What they did

   The training group mixed brain tasks, such as colour-word and memory tasks, into physical training. Sessions ran 2 to 5 times a week for 4 to 12 weeks. Most comparison groups did physical training alone, and one did tactical and technical training.

3. 03

   What happened

   Endurance improved more with training, a little when rested and a lot when tired. Reactions were faster in both states, and colour-word times were faster when rested, though dropping one study made that disappear. With training, mental tiredness rose less when tired and did not differ when rested, and the authors rated the studies low quality.

What the review found

1. Helped

   Across four studies, brain tasks mixed into training made reactions faster on a quick-reaction test when rested.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs people who did physical training alone · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. Helped

   Across four studies, brain tasks mixed into training made reactions faster on a quick-reaction test when tired.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs people who did physical training alone · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. Helped

   Across three studies, brain tasks mixed into training made people faster on a colour-word test when rested.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 3 studies · vs people who did physical training alone · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source