Bibliometric analysis of the effects of mental fatigue on athletic performance from 2001 to 2021.

Aims: To explore the research hot topics and main contents in the field of the influence of mental fatigue on athletic performance, and to provide new ideas and directions for future research in this field.

Methods: Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization tool software core collection of Web of Science database to TS = ("mental fatigue" OR "mental exertion" OR "cognitive fatigue" OR "Cognitive exertion" OR "mental exhaustion" OR "mental tiredness") AND ("athletic performance" OR "technical skill*" OR "Skill*" OR "technique" OR "decision making" OR "performance") AND ("Humans") searched for the influence of mental fatigue on athletic performance from 2001 to 2021 to conduct visual analysis. Research hot topics were analyzed from the aspects of high-impact countries/regions, institutions, authors, high-frequency keywords, and mutation terms.