Editorial: The cognitive era in sports performance: mental fatigue, cognitive training, and psychological ergogenic substances

The landscape of elite sports is undergoing a paradigm shift. While physical prowess remains foundational, the next frontier of athletic excellence lies in the mind. A growing body of research demonstrates that cognitive, perceptual, emotional, and motivational factors and interventions—and their underlying neurobiology—play a decisive role in human performance. This editorial synthesizes key findings from recent studies published in Frontiers in Psychology, highlighting how psychology and cognitive neuroscience are reshaping training, competition, and recovery in sports.