Effects of mental fatigue on sensory and capacity limits of visual attention

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Effects of mental fatigue on sensory and capacity limits of visual attention Arpád Csathó1*, Dimitri V. Linden2, István Hernádi3, Péter Buzás4 and Gergely Kalmár1 1 University of Pécs, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Hungary 2 Radboud University, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Netherlands 3 University of Pécs, Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Hungary 4 University of Pécs, Institute of Physiology, Hungary A common experience with mental fatigue is the difficulty in sustaining attention focused on a task when potentially interfering distractors are present. Indeed, several previous studies showed that mental fatigue resulting from prolonged cognitive activity may impair visual attention in various aspects. These fatigue-related impairments might be the consequences of at least 3 different mechanisms: (1) decreased perceptual ability, (2) decreased capacity of attention to the target or (3) a difficulty to inhibit distraction. The latter inhibitory problems may be increased when the perceptual saliency of the distractor is strong. We contrasted these explanations by testing, in one experiment, how mental fatigue affects the sensory and capacity limits of attention. Participants (N=20) performed a visual attention task (a flanker task) for 2.5 hours without rest. Stimuli consisted of target letters at different perceptual load and a peripheral distractor letter. Three target – distractor conditions were tested: neutral, congruent, and incongruent. Sensory saliency (luminance contrast) of the target letter varied across trials. Performance measures, EEG, as well as subjective fatigue ratings were recorded. Reaction times, fatigue ratings and EEG band powers (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) increased with time-on-task (TOT). With increasing TOT, reaction times became longer for trials with less salient targets. In contrast, TOT showed no clear effect on attentional capacity. Results indicate that decreased performance in a prolonged attentionally demanding task is mediated by sensory limits and difficulties in inhibiting perceptually salient distractors while the attentional capacity is unchanged. Conference: IBRO International Workshop 2010, Pécs, Hungary, 21 Jan - 23 Jan, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Cognition and behavior Citation: Csathó A, Linden DV, Hernádi I, Buzás P and Kalmár G (2010). Effects of mental fatigue on sensory and capacity limits of visual attention. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: IBRO International Workshop 2010. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.10.00145 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Apr 2010; Published Online: 29 Apr 2010. * Correspondence: Arpád Csathó, University of Pécs, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, arpad.csatho@aok.pte.hu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Arpád Csathó Dimitri V Linden István Hernádi Péter Buzás Gergely Kalmár Google Arpád Csathó Dimitri V Linden István Hernádi Péter Buzás Gergely Kalmár Google Scholar Arpád Csathó Dimitri V Linden István Hernádi Péter Buzás Gergely Kalmár PubMed Arpád Csathó Dimitri V Linden István Hernádi Péter Buzás Gergely Kalmár Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.