Central fatigue is characterized by which of the following?

Central fatigue is primarily characterized by a reduction in voluntary drive to motor neurons. This concept refers to the brain's diminished ability to generate signals that activate muscles during physical activity, particularly in prolonged or intense exercise scenarios. When the central nervous system becomes fatigued, it may struggle to maintain the necessary neural output for muscle contraction.

In context, central fatigue can result from factors such as depletion of neurotransmitters, altered ion balance, or psychological elements like motivation and perceived effort, all leading to diminished performance. It is distinct from peripheral fatigue, which involves changes at the level of the muscle itself.

The other options do not accurately describe central fatigue. For example, a decrease in muscle size is more associated with muscular atrophy rather than fatigue per se. An increase in muscle soreness relates more to delayed onset muscle soreness and typically follows exercise rather than being a direct indicator of fatigue. A loss of blood supply to the muscles tends to contribute to peripheral fatigue rather than central fatigue, as this aspect involves circulatory issues rather than neural activation.