NASA Task Load Index Research Articles

Assessing Mental Workload in Dual STEM–Air Force Language Listening Practice

Cognitive workload analysis is an important aspect of safety studies at the Spanish Air Force Academy where students must complete a dual academic curriculum based on military pilot training combined with an industrial engineering degree. Recently, a mental workload assessment (MWA) and forecasting model based on Shannon’s law from information theory (IT) has been published; it proposes a new mathematical procedure (MWA-IT) that defines a workload index that could be extrapolated to other case studies. The aim of this study was to adapt this model to the Spanish University Centre of Defence to calculate the mental workload caused by the listening practice in English as a foreign language. In addition, a contrasting methodology, the NASA task load index (NASA-TLX), was applied to validate the proposed model using the error study provided by SMAPE and MSE. The results established an expected reference baseline for MWA-IT in English listening that is between 36 and 92 at the end of the four courses, which corresponds to the students that start with the lowest English level (higher workload = 92) and the ones with the highest English level certification (lowest workload = 36); meanwhile, the NASA-TLX result was between 49.8 and 193.7 for the same circumstances. The main difference is that MWA-IT can be predicted with 41% less deviation than can NASA-TLX and does not require the completion of a questionnaire following the activities. Finally, the study also highlights the fact that that nearly 65% of the workload was caused by the first two courses, when the advanced STEM subjects were taught and the pilot learning and practice program had not yet begun. This methodology may help the teachers in charge to redesign or add new content depending on the expected workload reference.

Pain and Cognitive Load As Predictors of Absenteeism in Industry

Purpose: This study delves into the impact of pain and cognitive load on industrial absenteeism, aiming to highlight the importance of these factors in workforce management and productivity enhancement. Theoretical framework: Anchored in the biopsychosocial model, this research contends that absenteeism is intricately linked to the interplay between pain and cognitive load. Utilizing the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), it seeks to elucidate their combined influence on absenteeism. Method/design/approach: In a pilot study, NRS and the NASA-TLX were utilized for data collection, with a third-party dataset incorporating seven predictor variables and absenteeism as the dependent variable. Statistical analysis involved the Shapiro-Wilk Test for data normality and the Mann-Whitney U Test for non-normal distributions. Generalized Linear Models were applied to analyze the impact of variables on absenteeism, including multivariate, univariate and combined models. Model performance was evaluated using BIC, AIC, pseudo-R², LogLik, and AUC, with the Delong method for AUC comparison. Results and conclusion: Pain emerged as a significant absenteeism predictor. The integrated model displayed enhanced discriminatory capacity, underscoring the pronounced interrelation between pain, cognitive load, and absenteeism. These insights advocate for holistic management strategies encompassing both health and occupational aspects. Research implications: This study reaffirms the crucial role of pain and cognitive load in industrial absenteeism and highlights the importance of a multifaceted, data-driven approach for effective intervention strategies. Originality/value: This study offers unique perspectives on absenteeism by merging pain and cognitive load assessments, presenting a comprehensive method for understanding and mitigating its impact on the industrial workforce.

Structured Multidisciplinary work Evaluation Tool (SMET) questionnaire: Translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Persian version.

To assess relevant environmental conditions in any work-setting requires a multidisciplinary perspective that is practical, valid, and reliable. This includes the physical, environmental, and psychosocial risk-factors. The Structured Multidisciplinary work Evaluation Tool (SMET) questionnaire simultaneously considers multiple work-related demands. This study translated and culturally adapted the SMET into Persian and evaluated its psychometric properties in Persian industrial workers. Cross-sectional translation and cross-cultural adaptation in five standardized phases. A convenience sample (n = 211) recruited from an industrial-occupation setting completed: the SMET; and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) criteria; plus light and noise levels were concurrently assessed. Psychometric properties included: validity, with face (from confirmed language clarity, simplicity, and readability), content (via the content validity index, CVI, for equivalency and relevancy), criterion (through Pearson's r correlation with relevant criteria), and construct (through known group validity between participants with/without work-related musculoskeletal disorders, WMSDs); internal consistency (Cronbach's α); and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC2.1). Validity was confirmed with: face through the adaptation; content from suitable CVI values for items (CVI range = 0.78-1.0) and scale-total (CVI = 0.86); criterion from SMET associations with levels for light (r = - 0.42) and noise (r = 0.21), plus RULA (r = 0.42) and NASA-TLX (r = 0.39); and construct through participants with WMSD having significantly higher SMET total-scores (p = 0.01). Internal consistency (α= 0.89) and reliability (ICC2.1 = 0.87) were acceptable and strong. This study indicated that the SMET Persian version had acceptable psychometric properties in an industrial occupational setting. Further investigation in longitudinal populations is recommended.

Mediator Effects of Cognitive Load on Association between Self-Efficacy and Task Load in Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Aims. To explore the mediating effect of cognitive load on the relationship between self-efficacy and task load among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Background. Studies related to ICU nurses’ self-efficacy, cognitive load, and task load are noteworthy but limited. Methods. A total of 253 ICU nurses from three tertiary hospitals in Beijing were recruited and investigated by the Chinese version of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and an instrument for Measuring Different Types of Cognitive Load (MDT-CL) scales. SPSS 25.0 was used for Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis and mediation effect analysis using Model 4 in PROCESS (5,000 resamples). Results. Mediation analysis indicated that a partial mediating effect of extraneous cognitive load between self-efficacy and task load among ICU nurses was −0.707 (95% CI: −0.940, −0.504), accounting for 51.64% of the total effect. Conclusion. This study suggests that enhancing ICU nurses’ self-efficacy can be a potential strategy to decrease extraneous cognitive load and task load. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing administrators should actively implement intervention strategies based on influencing the task load pathway of ICU nurses to ensure they can provide safe and high-quality nursing services.

Investigating the Impact of Completion Time and Perceived Workload in Pickers-to-Parts Order-Picking Technologies: Evidence from Laboratory Experiments

Background: Despite the general impression that digital order-picking supportive technologies can manage a series of emerging challenges, there is still a very limited amount of research concerning the implementation and evaluation of such technologies in manual picker-to-goods order-picking systems. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the performance of three alternative picker-to-goods technologies (i.e., Pick-by-Radio Frequency (RF) Scanner, Pick-to-light, and Pick-by-vision) in terms of completion time and perceived workload. Methods: The Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology is adopted to investigate order-picking technologies in terms of completion time. More specifically, a full factorial design has been used (23 × 3 full factorial design) for the assessment of the aforementioned order-picking technologies via laboratory testing. Furthermore, for the comparative assessment of the reviewed order-picking technologies in terms of workload, the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is embraced by system users. Results: The results reveal that the best picker-to-goods technology in terms of order-picking completion time and perceived workload under certain laboratory setup is light picking when combined with few items per order line and many order lines per order. Conclusion: The paper successfully identified the best picker-to-goods technology, however it is important to mention that the adoption of such order-picking technology implies certain managerial implications that include training programs for employees to ensure they are proficient in using such technologies, upfront costs for purchasing and implementing the order picking system, and adjustments to existing workflows.

Integrating STEAM activities into teaching reading: Examination of comprehension and cognitive load

This paper reports the findings of an experimental study that probed into the impact of integrating STEAM activities into teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading on reading comprehension and its associated cognitive load. The sample included 60 high school students who were split into experimental and control groups, with 30 students in each. Before the study, their reading comprehension was assessed by the reading module of the A2 Key test. The associated cognitive load of A2 Key was assessed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASATLX) before the study as well. For the experimental group,STEAM-based pre-reading activitieswere incorporated into teaching reading while the control group was taught based on the conventional method utilizing the activities of their textbook. The experiment lasted for five months. The reading section of A2 Key and the NASA TLX were used to explore the effect of the intervention on the participants’ reading comprehension and its associated cognitive load after the study. The data were analyzed by t-test and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). According to the findings, STEAM-based warm-up activities significantly impactedthe development of reading comprehension in favor of the experimental group. It was also found that the cognitive load of the experimental group significantly reduced regardingmental demand, physical demand, and frustration in comparison to the control group. The practical implications of the study for education policymakers,curriculum designers, and teachers are understood in terms of integrating STEAM into the EFL curriculum to make students interested in STEAM topics and create a friendly class atmosphere that would lead to developing their reading skills and knowledge acquisition.

Immersive haptic simulation for training nurses in emergency medical procedures

The use of haptic simulation for emergency procedures in nursing training presents a viable, versatile and affordable alternative to traditional mannequin environments. In this paper, an evaluation is performed in a virtual environment with a head-mounted display and haptic devices, and also with a mannequin. We focus on a chest decompression, a life-saving invasive procedure used for trauma-associated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (and other causes) that every emergency physician and/or nurse needs to master. Participants’ heart rate and blood pressure were monitored to measure their stress level. In addition, the NASA Task Load Index questionnaire was used. The results show the approved usability of the VR environment and that it provides a higher level of immersion compared to the mannequin, with no statistically significant difference in terms of cognitive load, although the use of VR is perceived as a more difficult task. We can conclude that the use of haptic-enabled virtual reality simulators has the potential to provide an experience as stressful as the real one while training in a safe and controlled environment.

Common Subjective Mental Workload Assessment Measures: Advantages and Disadvantages

Background: The amount of mental resources required to perform simultaneously a series tasks is considered as mental workload (MWL). High and Low mental workload in the workplace is usually associated with mental fatigue, decreased performance, human error, and even harmful long-term health effects. Among the various MWL assessment techniques, the outcome measures such as questionnaires are easier and more practical in workplace settings. We aimed to compare the three current commonly advocated and used questionnaires. Material and Methods: Three common different outcome measures for evaluation of the MWL are NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT), and the CarMen-Q workload questionnaire. Among them the NASA-TLX is well known and more popular with six subscales that are used extensively in industrial and official workplaces. SWAT is the simplest one with three dimensions. The NASA-TLX is preferable method because of its higher sensitivity, especially in low MWL conditions. The CarMen-Q questionnaire is a new questionnaire with 29 items and 4 subscales that focuses on cognitive workload and mental fatigue. Conclusion: SWAT is the simplest and less sensitive measure than the NASA-TLX and CarMen-Q questionnaires. In contrast, the NASA-TLX is widely used and more known instrument for MWL evaluation.

Assessment of Seafarers’ Mental Workload: A Study on High Speed Craft

High speed craft has become prominent in maritime industry. Sophisticated electronic navigation equipment on bridge increases mental demands of high speed craft navigator. In the present study, mental workload of high speed craft navigators has been assessed in terms of bridge navigation operations. For this purpose, the pairwise comparison of the effects of Electronic Chart Display and Information System, Automatic Radar Plotting Aid, Automatic Identification System and autopilot on mental workload and Revised NASA Task Load Index questionnaires were carried out. High speed craft navigators sorted berthing, unberthing, navigation in coastal waters, navigation in restricted waters, and navigation on open sea operations according to their mental workload levels. In addition, they indicated the factors mostly affecting mental workload and the remarkable suggestions to keep the optimum level of mental workload. As result of these findings, considerations have been made for increasing the safety of high speed craft navigation.

Surgeon fatigue in robot-assisted and laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: Exploratory prospective observational study ancillary to JCOG1907 randomized controlled trial (JCOG1907A1).

TPS422 Background: Fatigue is being increasingly recognized as an important factor in surgical procedures, because it leads to errors in surgeons' decisions and reduced operating efficiency. In comparison to laparoscopic surgery, robot-assisted surgery is expected to reduce surgeon fatigue due to ergonomic adjustments, comfortable sitting positions, minimal restriction of instrument movement, and stable visualization. The aim of this study is to assess surgeon fatigue and explore the superiority of robot-assisted gastrectomy over laparoscopic gastrectomy in surgeon fatigue. Methods: This study is conducted as a prospective observational study ancillary to a randomized controlled phase III trial investigating the superiority in safety of robot-assisted gastrectomy over laparoscopic gastrectomy for clinical stage T1-4aN0-3 gastric cancer (JCOG1907: UMIN000039825). The lead surgeon and the first assistant performing surgeries as protocol treatment in JCOG1907 were included. Surgeon fatigue is quantitatively assessed using multiple assessment tools. The primary endpoint is the average NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) value for the lead surgeons. Secondary endpoints include six individual parameters of NASA-TLX, visual analog scale assessments for fatigue, advanced trail-making tests, and continuous heart rate variability measurements for lead surgeons and first assistants. The primary analysis compares surgeon fatigue between robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery. Secondary analyses examine the association between surgeon fatigue and various factors, such as surgeon and patient background, and surgical findings, as well as cross-correlations among measures of surgical fatigue. In addition, the association between surgeon fatigue and postoperative complications and its impact on long-term survival outcomes is also evaluated. The sample size is 500 surgical cases, with a planned accrual period of 2 years. This study was initiated in April 2023 and registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network as UMIN000052120. As of August 2023, 52 cases (10.4% of the planned accrual) have been enrolled in the study. Clinical trial information: UMIN000052120 .

Analisis Beban Kerja Mental Menggunakan Metode NASA-TLX pada Engineering Departement (Studi Kasus PT. Muliaglass Float Division)

PT Muliaglass Float Division, a subsidiary of PT Mulia Industrindo, operates in the glass and ceramic industry with a large production capacity every day. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the extent of psychological stress and what factors affect it. One way to measure mental workload is NASA-TLX. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is used to assess emotional mental load. The NASA TLX method is a mental workload measurement method that measures workload by dividing it into six aspects of work elements. NASA-TLX is divided into two phases. That is, comparing each scale and rating job performance. A total of 20 employees of the Engineering Department will be included in the study by distributing questionnaires. The results of the research calculations show an average Weight Work Load (WWL) score of 62.67 which falls into the high category. Further evaluation revealed influencing variables, including lack of rest time, lack of work office, and lack of inspiration at work that affect employee performance.

Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty Places a Disproportionate Burden on Surgeons: A Comparison Using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX)

BackgroundPerceived surgeon workload of performing primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is challenging to quantify. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX) survey was developed to quantify experiences following aviation and has been applied to healthcare fields. Our purposes were to 1) quantify the workload endured by surgeons who are performing primary and revision TKA and THA and 2) compare these values to their Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement. MethodsA prospective cohort of 5 fellowship-trained adult reconstruction surgeons completed NASA TLX surveys following primary and revision TKA/THA cases. A total of 122 surveys consisting of 70 TKA (48 primaries and 22 revisions) and 55 THA surveys (38 primaries and 17 revisions) were completed. Patient demographics and surgical variables were recorded. Final NASA TLX workloads were compared to 2021 CMS work relative value units. ResultsCompared to primary TKA, revision TKA had 176% increased intraoperative workload (P < .001), 233% increased mental burden (P < .001), and 150% increased physical burden (P < .001). Compared to primary THA, revision THA had 106% increased intraoperative workload (P < .001), 96% increased mental burden (P < .001), and 91% increased physical burden (P < .001). Operative time was higher in revision versus primary TKA (118 versus 84.5 minutes, P = .05) and THA (150 versus 115 minutes, P = .001). Based upon 2021 CMS data, revision TKA and THA would need to be compensated by an additional 36% and 12.3%, respectively, to parallel intraoperative efforts. ConclusionsRevision hip and knee arthroplasty places a major mental and physical workload upon surgeons and is disproportionately compensated by CMS.

Development and usability testing of a patient digital twin for critical care education: a mixed methods study.

Digital twins are computerized patient replicas that allow clinical interventions testing in silico to minimize preventable patient harm. Our group has developed a novel application software utilizing a digital twin patient model based on electronic health record (EHR) variables to simulate clinical trajectories during the initial 6 h of critical illness. This study aimed to assess the usability, workload, and acceptance of the digital twin application as an educational tool in critical care. A mixed methods study was conducted during seven user testing sessions of the digital twin application with thirty-five first-year internal medicine residents. Qualitative data were collected using a think-aloud and semi-structured interview format, while quantitative measurements included the System Usability Scale (SUS), NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and a short survey. Median SUS scores and NASA-TLX were 70 (IQR 62.5-82.5) and 29.2 (IQR 22.5-34.2), consistent with good software usability and low to moderate workload, respectively. Residents expressed interest in using the digital twin application for ICU rotations and identified five themes for software improvement: clinical fidelity, interface organization, learning experience, serious gaming, and implementation strategies. A digital twin application based on EHR clinical variables showed good usability and high acceptance for critical care education.

Exploring the impact of human-robot interaction on workers' mental stress in collaborative assembly tasks

Advances in robotics have contributed to the prevalence of human-robot collaboration (HRC). However, working and interacting with collaborative robots in close proximity can be psychologically stressful. Therefore, understanding the impacts of human-robot interaction (HRI) on mental stress is crucial for enhancing workplace well-being. To this end, this study investigated how the HRI factors – presence, complexity, and modality – affect the psychological stress of workers. We employed both the NASA-Task Load Index for subjective assessment and physiological metrics including galvanic skin responses, electromyography, and heart rate for objective evaluation. An experimental setup was implemented in which human operators worked together with a collaborative robot on Lego assembly tasks, using different interaction paradigms including pressing buttons, showing hand gestures, and giving verbal commands. The results revealed that the introduction of interactions during HRC helped reduce mental stress and that complex interactions resulted in higher mental stress than simple interactions. Meanwhile, using hand gestures led to significantly higher mental stress than pressing buttons and verbal commands. The findings provided practical insights for mitigating mental stress in the workplace and promoting wellness in the era of HRC.

Extraneous Load, Patient Census, and Patient Acuity Correlate With Cognitive Load During ICU Rounds

BackgroundCognitive Load Theory asserts that learning and performance degrade when cognitive load exceeds working memory capacity. This is particularly relevant in the learning environment of intensive care unit (ICU) rounds, when multidisciplinary providers integrate complex decision-making and teaching in a noisy, high-stress environment prone to cognitive distractions. Research QuestionWhat features of ICU rounds correlate with high provider cognitive load? Study Design and MethodsThis was an observational, multisite study of multidisciplinary providers during ICU rounds. Investigators recorded rounding characteristics and hourly extraneous cognitive load events during rounds (defined as distractions, episodes of split-attention or repetition, and deviations from standard communication format). Following rounds, investigators measured each provider’s cognitive load using the Provider Task Load (PTL), an instrument derived from the NASA Task Load Index survey that assesses perceived workload associated with complex tasks. Relationships between rounding characteristics, extraneous load, and PTL score were evaluated using mixed-effects modeling. Results76 providers were observed during 32 rounds from December 2020 – May 2021. The mean (±standard deviation) rounding census was 12.5±2.9 patients. The mean rounding time was 2h17m±49m. The mean extraneous load was 20.5±4.5 events per hour, or one event every 2m51sec. This included 8.6±3.4 distractions, 8.2±4.2 communication deviations, 1.9±1.4 repetitions, and 1.8±1.3 episodes of split-attention per hour. Controlling for covariates, the hourly extraneous load events, number of new patients, and number of higher acuity patients were each associated with increased PTL score (slope: 2.40 and 95% CI: 0.76 – 4.04, slope: 5.23 and 95% CI: 2.02 – 8.43, slope: 3.35 and 95% CI: 1.34 – 5.35, respectively). InterpretationIncreased extraneous load, new patients, and patient acuity were associated with higher cognitive load during ICU rounds. These results can help direct how the ICU rounding structure may be modified to reduce workload and optimize provider learning and performance.

The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Workload and Fatigue of Students during Online and Offline Practicum

Learning activities underwent policy changes during the Covid-19 pandemic were carried out online and offline. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were many ways that universities did to keep learning going, such as implementing online learning and online learning. Practical learning experiences changes in the teaching and learning process system due to university policies. This study aims to measure the level of mental workload and the level of student fatigue during online and offline practicums and to determine the relationship between mental workload and fatigue level. The methods used in this research are the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and Subjective Self Rating Test (SSRT) methods. The results showed that the level of mental workload of students was in the high classification with the NASA-TLX dimensions of effort, mental needs, and performance. The level of student fatigue is in the moderate classification with part of the SSRT, namely the weakening of activities. The results of the correlation test show that there is a relationship between mental workload and student fatigue levels with a positive direction of relationship.

Evaluation of a Voice-Enabled Autonomous Camera Control System for the da Vinci Surgical Robot

Robotic surgery involves significant task switching between tool control and camera control, which can be a source of distraction and error. This study evaluated the performance of a voice-enabled autonomous camera control system compared to a human-operated camera for the da Vinci surgical robot. Twenty subjects performed a series of tasks that required them to instruct the camera to move to specific locations to complete the tasks. The subjects performed the tasks (1) using an automated camera system that could be tailored based on keywords; and (2) directing a human camera operator using voice commands. The data were analyzed using task completion measures and the NASA Task Load Index (TLX) human performance metrics. The human-operated camera control method was able to outperform an automated algorithm in terms of task completion (6.96 vs. 7.71 correct insertions; p-value = 0.044). However, subjective feedback suggests that a voice-enabled autonomous camera control system is comparable to a human-operated camera control system. Based on the subjects’ feedback, thirteen out of the twenty subjects preferred the voice-enabled autonomous camera control system including the surgeon. This study is a step towards a more natural language interface for surgical robotics as these systems become better partners during surgery.

The Impact of Visual Perturbation Neuromuscular Training on Landing Mechanics and Neural Activity: A Pilot Study.

Athletes at risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury have concurrent deficits in visuocognitive function and sensorimotor brain functional connectivity. This study aimed to determine whether visual perturbation neuromuscular training (VPNT, using stroboscopic glasses and external visual focus feedback) increases physical and cognitive training demand, improves landing mechanics, and reduces neural activity for knee motor control. Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Eight right leg dominant healthy female athletes (20.4±1.1yrs; 1.6±0.1m; 64.4±7.0kg) participated in four VPNT sessions. Before and after VPNT, real-time landing mechanics were assessed with the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) and neural activity was assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging during a unilateral right knee flexion/extension task. Physical and cognitive demand after each VPNT session was assessed with Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) for both physical and cognitive perceived exertion and the NASA Task Load Index. Descriptives and effect sizes were calculated. Following VPNT, LESS scores decreased by 1.5 ± 1.69 errors with a large effect size (0.78), indicating improved mechanics, and reductions in BOLD signal were observed in two clusters: 1) left supramarginal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, secondary somatosensory cortex (p=.012, z=4.5); 2) right superior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor cortex (p<.01, z=5.3). There was a moderate magnitude increase of cognitive RPE between the first and last VPNT sessions. VPNT provides a clinically feasible means to perturbate visual processing during training that improves athletes' real-time landing mechanics and promotes neural efficiency for lower extremity movement, providing the exploratory groundwork for future randomized controlled trials. Level 3.

The Effects of Mental Fatigue Induced by the Stroop Test on Muscular Endurance Performance and Neuromuscular Activation in Division III Female Athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that mental fatigue, as induced by a Stroop test, has on resistance training performance outcomes such as muscular endurance, power output, and neuromuscular activation. Seven female college-aged NCAA Division III student-athletes with at least one year of resistance training experience and were within the 50th percentile for maximal aerobic capacity provided informed consent for participation. During two separate visits, using a within-subject crossover experimental design, subjects completed either the experimental or control condition. Subjects then completed a to-failure leg press test at 50% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM) followed by an isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) attempt with electromyography (EMG) analysis. The experimental condition consisted of a 30-minute Stroop test, while the control condition consisted of watching 30 minutes of a sitcom. Both activities were completed while cycling at 40% of their aerobic capacity. A NASA Task Load Index (TLX) inventory was administered following the completion of each cycling session to determine the perceived workload and mental fatigue of each activity. While the mentally fatiguing condition was significantly more mentally fatiguing (p = 0.02) than the control condition, mental fatigue did not statistically affect any of the evaluated performance outcomes (p&gt;0.05). These findings suggest that mental fatigue, a common symptom of psychological stress, does not affect resistance-training-related performance outcomes among female athletic populations.

Mental Workload and Prefrontal Brain Activity During Silent Reading Task in University Students with Problematic Smartphone Use.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is common among young people and linked to poor academic performance. However, how PSU affects learning processes remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of auditory cue stimulation during a reading task on the mental workload and prefrontal brain activity of young individuals with PSU. Sixteen university students with PSU and 14 healthy controls (HC) performed a silent reading task, during which fake notification sounds were introduced. Their mental workload was assessed using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and prefrontal brain activity was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results of the NASA-TLX suggest that the PSU group experienced greater frustration than the HC group. The fNIRS results showed that in the right medial prefrontal region of the HC group, O2Hb levels increased following cue stimulation, whereas no change was observed in the PSU group. Moreover, in the HC group, HHb levels in the left lateral prefrontal region decreased after cue stimulation. The findings of the present study demonstrate that university students with PSU experience frustration and exhibit deactivation in the prefrontal regions associated with the executive control network during silent reading in realistic learning situations.