Studies on the function of concentration maintenance (TAF). 12. Changes of TAF due to muscular work

Abstract

Our previous studies on the evaluation of mental stress by means of the TAF-test and experiments on TAF in relation to the brain waves indicated that the TAF may be a reasonable indicator of the state of central nervous activities. As to physical fatigue, the present studies have been carried out so as to know to what extent the change in TAF could be caused by muscular work.By the use of ergometer, three kinds of muscular works (light-work for 300 minutes, heavy-work for 30 minutes and long middle-work for 120 minutes) were given to 22 healthy male students at three-day rest intervals.Before and after the work load, the examinees were administered the TAF-test, brain-wave (α-wave) recording, knee-reflex and several other physiological function tests, and the expiratory gases were analyzed to measure the intensity of the load.The results obtained were as follows:1. Following the work-administration, the function of concentration maintenance (TAF-L) lowered in the heavy and long-middle works, while it increased in the light work.2. The lowering in TAF after the work-administration significantly correlated with the volume of oxygen consumed in muscular work, that is, the greater the latter the greater the former.3. In the extent over 650ml/min, of O2 consumption, the increase showed a significant correlation with that of the alpha-wave appearance in the brain waves.4. The threshold value of knee-reflex significantly increased after the work-administration in all three kinds of physical loads using ergometer.