Time Task Research Articles

A comparative study of cognitive function and reaction time in obese and non-obese adults

ABSTRACT Objective Obesity may negatively affect the physical health and cognitive functions of individuals and delay their reaction time to stimuli. However, the association among obesity, cognitive functions, and reaction times is yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on cognitive functions and visual and auditory reaction times in adults. Methods Data of 100 participants (50 obese and 50 normal) were analyzed in the study. Anthropometric parameters and 24-h dietary recall data were recorded. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the cognitive functions, Simple Reaction Time Task (SRTT)-Visual and SRTT-Auditory were used to assess visual and auditory reaction times of the participants, respectively. Results The mean MoCA score of the obese was significantly lower than normal (17.46 and 25.22, respectively; p < 0.001). In addition, the mean auditory (p < 0.001) and visual (p < 0.05) reaction times of obese were significantly longer than normal. Similarly, this condition was also observed for the fastest and lowest values of auditory and visual reaction times. Additionally, obesity caused a decrease in the MoCA score (β = -0.762; p < 0.001) and delayed visual (β = 0.423; p < 0.001) and auditory (β = 0.590; p < 0.001) reactions. The negative effect of obesity was maintained after controlling for potential factors (MoCA, β = -0.594; p < 0.001; SRTT-Auditory, β = 0.409; p < 0.01; SRTT-Visual, β = 0.330; p < 0.05). Conclusion Obese participants showed worse cognitive, auditory and visual performance. Additional research will be necessary in the future to shed light on the fundamental mechanisms involved.

Neuroimaging features for cognitive fatigue and its recovery with VR intervention: An EEG microstates analysis.

Cognitive fatigue is mainly caused by enduring mental stress or monotonous work, impairing cognitive and physical performance. Natural scene exposure is a promising intervention for relieving cognitive fatigue, but the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) simulated natural scene exposure is unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of VR natural scene on cognitive fatigue and further explored its underlying neurophysiological alterations with electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates analysis. Ten participants performed a 20-minute 1-back task before and after VR intervention while EEG was recorded (pre-task, post-task). Performance was measured with mean accuracy rate (MAR) and mean reaction time (MRT) of the continuous 1-back task. VR simulation of the Canal Town scene was utilized to alleviate cognitive fatigue caused by 1-back tasks. Four resting-state phases were identified: beginning, pre, post, and end phases. Post-task had a higher MAR and a lower MRT than pre-task. For pre-task, MAR was negatively correlated with trials, while MRT was positively correlated with trials. Four EEG microstates classes (A-D) were identified, and their temporal parameters (mean duration, time coverage and occurrence) and transition probabilities were calculated. After intervention, mean duration and time coverage of class B decreased, all parameters of class C increased, while all parameters of class D decreased. Transition probabilities between classes B and D decreased but increased between classes A and C. VR simulation of Canal Town scene is a potentially effective method to alleviate cognitive fatigue. Microstate is an electrophysiological trait characteristic of cognitive fatigue and might be used to indicate the effect of VR intervention.

Dynamic reconfiguration of default and frontoparietal network supports creative incubation.

Although creative ideas often emerge during distraction activities unrelated to the creative task, empirical research has yet to reveal the underlying neurocognitive mechanism. Using an incubation paradigm, we temporarily disengaged participants from the initial creative ideation task and required them to conduct two different distraction activities (moderately-demanding: 1-back working memory task, non-demanding: 0-back choice reaction time task), then returned them to the previous creative task. On the process of creative ideation, we calculated the representational dissimilarities between the two creative ideation phases before and after incubation period to estimate the neural representational change underlying successful incubation. The results found that, for the 0-back condition, successful incubation was associated with the representational change in precuneus (PCU), whereas for the 1-back condition, it was associated with change in rostrolateral PFC (rlPFC), suggesting the dual processes of the DMN-mediated associative thinking and PFC-mediated controlled thinking for the 0- or the 1-back incubation conditions to prompt creation. On the incubation delay, we found the successful incubation in both conditions was accompanied with network integration between frontoparietal (FP) and default mode (DM) network, further suggesting the coupling of the controlled- and associative-thinking for the incubation to work. Moreover, we found the FP-DM integration during incubation period could respectively predict the representational change in PCU or rlPFC in the creative ideation phase of 0- or 1-back condition. This means both conditions benefits from the coordination of the controlled and of the associative thinking in incubation period, but for the representational change in creative ideation phase, 1-back condition relies more on the controlled thinking, whereas the 0-back on the associative ones. Additionally, we created a neural encoding indicator to assess the degree to which temporal activities in the rlPFC or PCU during incubation delay is related to the after-incubation successful problem-solving, and we found a positive relation between this indicator and dynamic reconfiguration of brain networks. This further indicates that FP-DM integration supports creative incubation through offline processing.

Exercising Self-Control Increases Responsivity to Hedonic and Eudaimonic Rewards.

The reward responsivity hypothesis of self-control proposes that, irrespective of self-control success, exercising self-control is aversive and engenders negative affect. To countermand this discomfort, reward-seeking behavior may be amplified after bouts of self-control, bringing individuals back to a mildly positive baseline state. Previous studies indicated that effort-an integral component of self-control-can increase reward responsivity. We sought to test and extend the reward responsivity hypothesis by asking if exercising self-control increases a neural marker of reward responsivity (Reward Positivity) differentially for hedonic rewards or eudaimonic rewards. We instructed participants (N = 114) to complete a speeded reaction time task where they exercised self-control (incongruent Stroop trials) or not (congruent Stroop trials), and then had the opportunity to win money for themselves (hedonic rewards) or a charity (eudaimonic rewards) while EEG was recorded. Consistent with the reward responsivity hypothesis, participants evinced a larger RewP after exercising self-control (vs. not exercising self-control). Participants also showed a larger RewP for hedonic over eudaimonic rewards. Self-control and reward type did not interactively modulate RewP, suggesting that self-control increases the reward responsivity in a domain-general manner. The findings provide a neurophysiological mechanism for the reward responsivity hypothesis of self-control and promise to revitalize the relevant literature.

Control Principles of Neural Dynamics Revealed by the Neurobiology of Timing.

Cognition unfolds dynamically over flexible timescales. A major goal of the field is to understand the computational and neurobiological principles that enable this flexibility. Here, we argue that the neurobiology of timing provides a platform for tackling these questions. We begin with an overview of proposed coding schemes for the representation of elapsed time, highlighting their computational properties. We then leverage the one-dimensional and unidirectional nature of time to highlight common principles across these coding schemes. These principles facilitate a precise formulation of questions related to the flexible control, variability, and calibration of neural dynamics. We review recent work that demonstrates how dynamical systems analysis of thalamocortical population activity in timing tasks has provided fundamental insights into how the brain calibrates and flexibly controls neural dynamics. We conclude with speculations about the architectural biases and neural substrates that support the control and calibration of neural dynamics more generally.

Ergonomic design of foot-operated resistance spot welding interface using multi-criteria decision-making approach

Background Manual spot-welding operators often engage in repetitive motions, awkward postures, and prolonged standing. These factors increase the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), particularly affecting the lower limbs and back. Additionally, inadequate workstation design impacts workers’ health, safety, and productivity. Objective Identify the optimal conditions for the spot-welding interface using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach with three input parameters: pedal height (30, 35, 40 cm), worker distance (70, 80, 90 cm) and worksheet thickness (22, 25, 30 gauge). Methods The study employed L27 orthogonal array experimental design. Entropy Weight Method (EWM) was used to determine weight of each factor. The optimal input parameters were identified using Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method, with validation from Weighted Grey Relational Analysis (WGRA) and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) determined the significance of input parameters, and a confirmation test validated the findings. Results EWM calculated a weight of 0.3404 to task time, 0.3401 to pedal force, and 0.3193 to comfort level. WASPAS, WGRA, and TOPSIS identified the optimal parameters as pedal height of 35 cm, worker distance of 80 cm, and worksheet thickness of 30-gauge. ANOVA showed that worksheet thickness had the greatest impact on response, followed by worker distance and pedal height. The confirmation test validated the result with high reliability (0.88% error). Conclusion This study explored ergonomic recommendations for optimizing spot-welding environments using a statistical and MCDM model focused on improving pedal force, task time, and comfort.

Association between the attentional network efficiency and change of direction speed ability in young male Indian footballers

IntroductionInteractions between cognitive functions and sports-specific motor actions are crucial for strategic sports performance. Change of direction speed (CODS) is an essential motor ability required for rapid positional maneuvering in football. Although CODS lacks perceptual judgment and anticipatory elements of higher-level cognition, its connection with fundamental cognitive abilities cannot be undermined. The attentional networks is the basis of the fundamental cognitive abilities controlling complex behavior. The present study aimed to investigate the association between CODS ability and the efficiency of alerting, orienting, and executive components of the attentional networks, and decision-making in footballers.MethodsSeventy-eight male footballers (age: 15.4 ± 0.87 years, BMI: 19.4 ± 1.98 kg/m2) during pre-season completed a battery of field tests comprising Illinois agility test (IAT), 30 m sprint, standing broad jump, and Yo-Yo test. Attentional network components and decision-making ability were tested in the participants with computerized Attentional Network Test-Interactions (ANT-I) and choice reaction time (CRT) tasks in the laboratory set-up. A 2(alerting) ×3 (orienting) ×2 (executive) repeated measures ANOVA tested interactions between the attentional network components. Partial correlation was conducted between the physical (field tests) and cognitive test scores adjusted for age and BMI.ResultsCODS ability measured with IAT was significantly correlated [r = +0.507 (large), p &amp;lt; 0.05] with the executive control network only, nor with alerting [r = −0.039 (trivial), p &amp;gt; 0.05] and orienting [r = + 0.051 (trivial), p &amp;gt; 0.05] networks and neither the CRT task performance [r = −0.011 (trivial), p &amp;gt; 0.05].DiscussionA strong positive association between executive control and preplanned CODS indicates better interference control by the attentional network. The later may be a factor for faster CODS execution in young footballers. Hence, it may be concluded that better CODS ability is possibly an outcome of innate competence in executive control of the attentional network in young male footballers. These findings attempted to fill the knowledge gap by highlighting the importance of the attentional network functions in modulating CODS ability. The outcomes can benefit football training by implementing ANT-I test in sports-specific settings and for screening purposes. However in the future, a large-scale study including female footballers is required to strengthen this claim further.

Individual differences in training time in the rat gambling task are unrelated to subsequent decision-making strategies

IntroductionDecision-making requires individuals to perceive probabilities and risks associated with different options. The Iowa gambling task (IGT) is a widely used instrument that assesses decision-making under uncertainty and risk by varying monetary reinforcer/loss contingencies. The rat gambling task (rGT), based on the IGT, is a preclinical test using varying number of palatable reinforcers as wins and different duration of timeouts as punishment, mimicking losses. The rGT requires extensive operant training prior to the free choice sessions. The aim of the present study was to investigate if task acquisition and number of training days affected subsequent individual differences in decision-making strategies in the rGT, and if behavioral profiles impacted on task learning.MethodTraining time and performance of 70 male Lister Hooded rats from previously published studies were herein used to investigate whether learning time affected later decision-making strategies in the free choice rGT. Behavioral profiles generated from a subset of animals were used to study the impact of underlying behavior on learning time.ResultsThere were differences in training days between fast, intermediate and slow learners. However, time required to acquire the rGT did not affect subsequent decision-making strategies in the free choice rGT. Finally, learning time was independent of underlying behavioral profiles.DiscussionIn conclusion, neither decision-making strategies in the rGT nor behavioral profiles were correlated or differed between animals with different learning speed. This suggests that the large variation in training time between animals is unrelated to subsequent decision-making strategies during free choice rGT. Such information is valuable for researchers using the rGT.

Perceptions and Challenges Encountered by BTVTED Students Towards Online Classes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Polytechnic State College: A Phenomenological Study

This study phenomenological explored the perceptions and challenges of second-year Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTED) Fish Processing students at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Nabua during online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to answer two central questions: (1) What are the students' perceptions of online classes? and (2) What challenges did they encounter during online learning? Additionally, three sub-questions were explored: (1) How do students handle these difficulties while taking online classes? (2) What do students perceive as the positive effects of online classes on their development? and (3) What teaching approaches could teachers adopt in online learning to address these challenges? A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing Colaizzi's descriptive method to analyze participants’ experiences. Thirty purposively selected students participated in online interviews. The study revealed that students found online classes challenging and unconventional, with compromised education quality and difficulties understanding topics due to a lack of interactive engagement. Identified challenges included limited access to resources, unstable internet connectivity, power interruptions, weather disruptions, and a lack of motivation. Students developed coping mechanisms such as time management, prioritizing tasks, staying motivated, and avoiding distractions. The positive effects of online classes included flexibility, reduced travel expenses, and increased time for family and personal tasks. The study emphasized the need for teachers to adopt more engaging and interactive teaching approaches and recommended addressing resource availability and improving internet infrastructure to alleviate students' difficulties and ensure effective online learning experiences.

Single and combined effects of environmental heat stress and physical exercise on thermoregulation, executive function, and cerebral oxygenation.

This study investigated the single and combined effects of environmental heat stress and physical exercise on executive function (EF) performance, prefrontal cortex oxygenation, thermoregulatory responses and subjective perceptions. Sixteen subjects participated in four experimental sessions: two under moderate environmental conditions (23°C), with and without physical exercise (R23, E23), and two under hot environmental conditions (35°C), with and without physical exercise (R35, E35). In each session, participants completed EF tasks before and after 1h of passive rest or 45min of moderate-intensity cycling followed by 15min of rest. We used Δresponse time (ΔRT) and Δaccuracy (ΔACC) of EF tasks to demonstrate changes from pre to post experiment. Additionally, changes in cerebral oxygenation during EF tasks were illustrated using the Δoxygenation difference. Heat stress alone increased core temperature (Tcore), mean skin temperature (Tskin), heart rate (HR), thermal sensation (TS), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Exercise in a hot environment further increased physiological indicators and RPE, but TS exhibited a different pattern, with lower TS in R35 compared to E35 during the second battery of executive function tests. Moreover, heat stress alone increased ΔRT for the More-Odd Shifting task and the Stroop task under incongruent conditions, while decreasing the Δoxygenation difference during the More-Odd Shifting task. ΔRT for the 2-back, More-Odd Shifting and Stroop tasks under incongruent conditions were lower in the E35 trial than in the R35 trial, whereas the Δoxygenation difference was higher in the E35 trial compared to the R35 trial. These findings indicate that environmental heat stress alone increases Tcore and Tskin, alters TS, and impairs EF performance by decreasing prefrontal cortex oxygenation. A 45-min moderate-intensity exercise combined with environmental heat stress enhances the increases in body temperatures but mitigates the detrimental effects of heat stress alone on EF performance by increasing prefrontal cortex oxygenation.

Evaluating datafied time: exploring the multiple temporalities of teachers’ work with digital assessment

ABSTRACT The recent emphasis of educational policies on the development of AI tools for education is aimed to save teachers’ time of mundane and repetitive tasks for meaningful pedagogical practices. These so-called burdensome tasks (e.g. students’ roll-in presences, plagiarism detection, feedback, and grading) which are incorporated within platform infrastructures and delegated to algorithms are heavily data-driven. This paper explores the question of how data-driven automated processes of evaluation govern teachers’ evaluative practices with respect to professional judgement and decision-making by producing plural temporalities. This paper empirically scrutinizes how teachers conduct evaluative practices through digital evaluation embedded in the Moodle platform, in which practices of correction, grading and feedback giving are partially automated. By analysing the screen recordings of ten digital tests from the moment of genesis until the moment they are archived, as well as a group discussion with teachers, we identify that one of the significant performances of automated grading in student evaluation is to condense teachers’ correction time and produce immediate results. This, however, is only made possible through the extensive data work that teachers need to do while making a test.

Temporal metacognition: Direct readout or mental construct? The case of introspective reaction time.

Deciphering whether and which mental processes are accessible for metacognitive judgments is a key question to understand higher cognitive functions. Paralleling the crucial role of reaction times (RT) for unraveling the temporal sequence of mental processes, a comparable chronometric approach can be employed at the second-order level through introspective reaction times (iRT) measures. Although mean iRT correlate with mean RT, suggesting good metacognitive abilities, this would not necessarily imply a direct readout of the duration of the underlying processes as participants may instead rely on inferences based on other salient, nontemporal, cues. In the present study, two experiments investigated information at the basis of iRT. In visual choice reaction time tasks, participants were asked to report their RT on a visual analog scale after each trial. Thanks to linear regression analyses, we could evidence that trial-by-trial RT and iRT were strongly correlated, indicating a good readout of RT duration, but also that subjective evaluation was systematically biased by some experimental conditions. In addition, with electromyographic recordings, each single trial RT could be fractionated into premotor and motor times, allowing to investigate the relative contribution of each subprocess to iRT. This revealed that participants access both decision and motor execution durations. Results show that participants can access the duration of their mental processes but that this readout can be biased by nontemporal cues. The proposed methodology allows to dissociate the two. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Ситуационно-событийный подход к пониманию психологического благополучия/неблагополучия студенческой молодежи

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The article presents a situational-event approach in the perspective of academic research on the psychological well/ill-being of students, and the development of sound student support service programs. The target group, young people studying, has a high psychological vulnerability due to high social requirements and a special timing of developmental tasks. Situations are a subjective reflection of the circumstances in which the person is. An event is a change in the subjective picture of a life path. Situations and events as the factors of well/ill-being can be ordered in terms of their probability, typicality and chance of being prevented or mitigated. In the Russian tradition, the umbrella concept in relation to events and situations is a difficult life situation. Empirical studies show that the most typical difficulties in students are related to the academic sphere, and their possible resolution has a different locus and agent. In conclusion, a brief overview of relevant methods for studying difficulties in student life is given. The limitations of existing research and the prospects for the development of a situational-event approach are described.&lt;/p&gt;

In vivo Calcium Extrusion from Accumbal Astrocytes Reduces Anxiety-like Behaviors but Increases Compulsive-like Responses and Compulsive ethanol drinking in Mice.

The ventral striatum is crucially involved in reward processing. The present study investigates the behavioral effects of astrocyte-specific calcium extrusion virus "CalEx" on perseverative responses in the operant five-choice serial reaction time task and ethanol-conditioned place preference. Mice were injected with CalEx via the GfaABC1D promoter to extrude cytosolic calcium from astrocytes within the ventral striatum. We found that CalEx transfection in the ventral striatum reduced evoked response duration, the maximum amplitude, and the response frequency to 500 μM ATP as measured by ΔF/F fluorescence intensity of the genetically encoded calcium indicator targeting astrocytes GCaMP6f. During the five-choice serial reaction time task, CalEx mice persisted in perseverative responses compared to their counterparts. Additionally, during ethanol-conditioned place preference, CalEx mice showed increased place preference for a low ethanol concentration compared to control group. Furthermore, we found that accumbal astrocytic calcium extrusion increased quinine adulterated ethanol drinking. Our findings suggest that diminishing ventral striatum astrocyte calcium activity contributes to compulsive behaviors, ethanol drinking, and enhanced ethanol drug reward.

Mobile health clinics in a rural setting: a cost analysis and time motion study of La Clínica in Oregon, United States

BackgroundMobile Health Clinics (MHCs) are an alternate form of healthcare delivery that may ameliorate current rural–urban health disparities in chronic diseases and have downstream impacts on the health system by reducing costs. Evaluations of providers’ time allocation on MHCs are scarce, hindering knowledge transfer related to MHC implementation strategies.MethodsRetrospective economic cost was assessed using business ledgers and expert assessments in 2023 US Dollar (USD) from 2022 to 2023. Time motion observational study assessed nurse practitioner (NP) and community health worker (CHW) time allocation and compared them between patients residing in isolated rural areas (hereafter isolated rural patients) and patients experiencing houselessness (PEH) sub-populations. Procedure codes were assessed retrospectively for each patient encounter (n = 1,981) over one year (April 2022 to April 2023). We used statistical significance tests (chi-square and Fisher’s Exact) to evaluate difference across sub-populations.ResultsIntervention start-up and operational costs totaled 275,000USD and 308,000USD, respectively, with the largest allocations to the modified recreational vehicle (RV) unit and labor. NP attributed 32% of time on direct care (mean = 153.00 min (SD = 37.80 min)), 38% on indirect care (186.0 (53.40)), and 21% on MHC tasks (104.00 (23.94)). CHW spent 47% of time on MHC tasks (182.00 (29.46)), 22% on medical care tasks (85.01 (SD 81.97)), and 22% on social needs tasks (87.70 (86.71 min)). NP time allocation did not differ significantly between isolated rural patients and PEH (p > 0.01), but CHW time did (p < 0.01). Of all procedures, 31.3% were vaccinations (N = 438), 27.0% were Covid-19 related (N = 377), 12.8% were outside referrals (N = 179), and 11.8% were point of care testing. Healthcare utilization varied between patient sub-populations, with Isolated Rural patient use dominated by Covid-19 and Influenza vaccines whereas PEH use was dominated by point of care testing (p < 0.01).ConclusionPatient sub-populations require varying provider time in different tasks and variable economic resources for interventions. As local policy makers balance resources and community health needs, a complete understanding of the resources required to operate an MHC and use of provider time is essential for informed decision making and successful implementation in underserved communities.

Mental fatigue increases perception of effort but does not compromise the inhibitory control of football referees during a match simulation physical task.

Executive functioning (EF) in referees is associated with their decision-making during a match and can be affected by mental fatigue (MF), a psychobiological state induced by prolonged periods of cognitive activity or high cognitive demand within a short timeframe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of MF on EF and the perception of effort during a physical task for football referees. Twelve male professional football referees were recruited (32±7.3years; 1.75±0.06cm; 85±13.32kg; 41.4±5.92mLkg-1min-1 VO2max), visiting the laboratory on three occasions: one for characterization and familiarization and two experimental manipulations: high cognitive load (MF) and low cognitive load. After manipulations, they performed a physical task designed to replicate the physical demands of an official match. During the physical task, executive functioning was tested with a reaction time task and the ratings of perceived effort were assessed using subjective scales. The results revealed no effect of MF on response time performance (p=0.395). However, higher perceptions of effort were observed in the high cognitive load condition (p=0.018), which may impact physical performance. Despite the alteration in the perception of effort due to mental fatigue, executive function performance of football referees remained unimpaired.

Analysis of Self-Regulated Learning and Learning Style Preference of First-Year Medical Students for E-Learning Optimization

First-year medical students adapt to hybrid education, combining online and offline learning in the new standard era. The various features of e-learning need to accommodate students' skills in self-regulated learning and their preferences, such as learning style preference. Therefore, this research aims to analyze first-year medical students' self-regulated learning skills and learning style preferences in online learning to identify e-learning optimization needs that can facilitate their adaptation to medical education. A descriptive quantitative and qualitative narrative method was conducted through document analysis. The Online Self-Regulated Learning Questions (OSRLQs) were used to obtain quantitative descriptive data on students' self-regulated learning skills, and the learning style preference questionnaire was used to obtain data on first-year medical students. The results showed that first-year medical students require optimization in four domains of the self-regulated learning skills in online learning, including task strategies, time management, help-seeking, and self-evaluation. The analysis yielded 19 categories with three main learning style preferences: a combination of visual and auditory and a combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. This analysis recommends optimizing several e-learning features to improve first-year medical students' self-regulated learning skills and learning style preferences.

Analisis Faktor Ergonomi Terhadap Kinerja Pekerja Las (Studi Kasus Pekerja Las di Daerah Surakarta)

Human resources are one of the factors that influence the progress of the business being undertaken. The Surakarta area has an increasing number of MSMEs every year. One of the MSMEs that is growing is a welding workshop. There are several things that affect employee performance, one of which is ergonomic conditions. Of course, this condition can be described in the task or work factor that is assigned. This study aims to analyze ergonomic factors on the performance of welding workers in the Surakarta area. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. The number of respondents or samples in this study was 50 welding workers in the Surakarta area. The data analysis method used is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The work environment around the welding workshop actually affects employee performance. One of them is ergonomics. The ergonomic aspect of performance is influenced by several factors, two of which are work organization and workload. This study uses work organization and workload variables as indicators of measuring ergonomic factors on the performance of welding workers in the welding workshop. Based on the results of the study, it can be seen that the work organization variable as an ergonomic indicator has a positive influence on the performance of workers in the welding workshop. This can be seen from the p values ​​of 0.000 less than the alpha value of 5%. There are three aspects that can optimize employee performance in terms of work organization, namely effective communication between fellow workers, good human resource management and optimal work time task design. Meanwhile, the performance load does not affect the performance of welding workers in the welding Keywords: Ergonomics, Surakarta, Welding, Workers

Common neocortical and hippocampal correlates of Performance errors in a timing task.

We aimed to identify the neuronal correlates of performance errors in a difficult timing task. Male rats were trained to seek rewards and avoid shocks depending on the position of photic conditioned stimuli (CS-R and CS-S, respectively). Then, they were exposed to conflict trials where they had to time the interval between the CS-R and CS-S to obtain rewards while avoiding footshocks. There were pronounced individual differences in behavioral strategies on conflict trials. When presented with a CS-S, some rats quickly left the shock sector, forsaking the option of earning a reward, and rarely got shocked. Others earned rewards by delaying avoidance based on the interval between the CS-R and CS-S but were shocked more often. The probability rats would fail a given trial was not stable across trials as rats engaged in incorrect trial runs that were longer than expected by chance. Since this finding suggested that rats shift between two quasi-stable processing modes, we next examined the neuronal correlates of errors. Incorrect trials coincided with reduced firing rates in CA1 and sensory cortical neurons. Moreover, trial-to-trial variations in the firing rates of simultaneously recorded neurons were more strongly correlated on error than correct trials. Last, the power of low frequency local field potential oscillations was higher during incorrect trials. The finding that the neuronal correlates of correct and error trials are similar in the hippocampus and neocortex lead us to hypothesize that they depend on changes in the activity of common afferents, such as neuromodulatory inputs.Significance statement We studied the neuronal correlates of performance errors in a task where rats had to time the interval between reward- and shock-predicting stimuli to obtain rewards while avoiding footshocks. Rats engaged incorrect trial runs that were longer than expected by chance, suggesting that they shift between two quasi-stable modes of processing. Error trials coincided with a drop in the firing rates of CA1 and sensory cortical neurons. Trial-to-trial variations in the firing rates of simultaneously recorded CA1 and cortical neurons were more strongly correlated on error than correct trials. The finding that the correlates of correct and error trials are similar in the hippocampus and neocortex suggest that they depend on common changes in neuromodulator levels.

Uncovering Dynamical Equations of Stochastic Decision Models Using Data-Driven SINDy Algorithm.

Decision formation in perceptual decision making involves sensory evidence accumulation instantiated by the temporal integration of an internal decision variable toward some decision criterion or threshold, as described by sequential sampling theoretical models. The decision variable can be represented in the form of experimentally observable neural activities. Hence, elucidating the appropriate theoretical model becomes crucial to understanding the mechanisms underlying perceptual decision formation. Existing computational methods are limited to either fitting of choice behavioral data or linear model estimation from neural activity data. In this work, we made use of sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy), a data-driven approach, to elucidate the deterministic linear and nonlinear components of often-used stochastic decision models within reaction time task paradigms. Based on the simulated decision variable activities of the models and assuming the noise coefficient term is known beforehand, SINDy, enhanced with approaches using multiple trials, could readily estimate the deterministic terms in the dynamical equations, choice accuracy, and decision time of the models across a range of signal-to-noise ratio values. In particular, SINDy performed the best using the more memory-intensive multitrial approach while trial averaging of parameters performed more moderately. The single-trial approach, although expectedly not performing as well, may be useful for real-time modeling. Taken together, our work offers alternative approaches for SINDy to uncover the dynamics in perceptual decision making and, more generally, for first-passage time problems.