The Effects of a Caffeine Supplement (UBrain) on Cognitive Fatigue After a Virtual Reality Drive Simulation

Motorsport drivers are now widely recognized as athletes in their own right, as they are required to cope with levels of physical and psychological stress comparable to those experienced in more conventional sports. However, cognitive function appears to play a particularly crucial role in motorsport athletes. Indeed, in competitive automobile racing, the ability to achieve and maintain high speeds depends to a large extent on cognitive information-processing abilities rather than solely on physical parameters. Although these motor-cognitive abilities can be enhanced through specific training and coaching programs targeting both physical and psychological domains, to date, few studies in the scientific literature have investigated the potential psychophysiological benefits of sports supplementation in motorsport athletes. One aspect that warrants further investigation is the use of dietary supplements containing caffeine and nootropic compounds. Indeed, these supplementation has been shown to potentially enhance executive functions and working memory at the central level. Therefore, the investigation of novel supplementation strategies with potential ergogenic effects on the psychophysiological performance of motorsport drivers remains important for optimizing both central and peripheral adaptations in this specific athletic population. To this end, the dietary supplement (UBrain) was selected for use in the present study.

Inclusion Criteria: * No evidence of cognitive impairment, defined as a final score of ≥26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). * Previous experience with on-track driving and/or driving simulation Exclusion Criteria: * Medical history, signs, or symptoms of severe, uncontrolled, or unstable diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal, thyroid, neurological, neuromuscular, peripheral vascular, or autoimmune disease.