The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Exploration in a Complex Computer Task: Rigidity and Loss of Systematic Strategies

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

We investigated the impact of mental fatigue on exploration in a complex computer task. The exploration behavior of participants who underwent a fatigue manipulation (N = 36) was compared with that of a control (nonfatigued) group (N = 32). A distinction was also made between participants with high or low levels of general computer experience. Results showed that fatigued participants used significantly less systematic exploration and made more errors than did nonfatigued participants. Fatigued participants with low computer experience also showed significantly more rigid behavior than did the other participants. No differences were found on the number of subtasks solved. Compared with low-experience participants, highly experienced participants showed significantly more systematic exploration, less unsystematic trial and error, solved more subtasks, and made fewer errors (marginally significant p = .056). Findings were interpreted as the result of reduced task engagement under fatigue and reduced involvement of executive control on behavior. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidelines to prevent detrimental effects of mental fatigue on exploration behavior.

Original languageEnglish
JournalHuman Factors
Volume45
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)483-494
Number of pages12
ISSN0018-7208
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.09.2003
Externally publishedYes

Recently viewed

Researchers

  1. Thomas Petzel

Publications

  1. Atlas mit CD-ROM
  2. Extension of SEIR compartmental models for constructive Lyapunov control of COVID-19 and analysis in terms of practical stability
  3. Fast, curvature-based prediction of rolling forces for porous media based on a series of detailed simulations
  4. Extrusion Benchmark 2009 – A Step Ahead in Virtual Process Optimization
  5. Repeated sampling detects gene flow in a flightless ground beetle in a fragmented landscape
  6. The disproportionate value of scattered trees
  7. More Evidence for Three Types of Cognitive Style
  8. Geometric control tools for robotic manipulators
  9. On the Question of Blockchain Activism
  10. Comparative study of microstructure and texture of cast and homogenized TX32 magnesium alloy after hot deformation
  11. High temperature mechanical behavior of an extruded Mg-11Gd-4.5Y-1Nd-1.5Zn-0.5Zr (wt%) alloy
  12. The value of sub-national data
  13. Pesticide and metabolite fate, release and transport modelling at catchment scale
  14. iTaukei ways of knowing and managing mangroves for ecosystem-based adaptation
  15. Introducing the MusicLab Copenhagen Dataset
  16. In situ investigation of microstructure evolution during solidification of Mg10CaxGd (x = 5, 10, 20) alloys
  17. Ge-/Beschriebenes Gesicht
  18. Predicting the future performance of soccer players
  19. Kunst
  20. Devianzmanagement
  21. Overview of a Proposed Ecological Risk Assessment Process for Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Non‐Apis Bees
  22. SH-CoDE: Scholarly Hybrid Complex Question Decomposition and Execution
  23. "Man muss über sich selbst schreiben"
  24. Organizing for innovation through accelerators: Concluding remarks
  25. THE GROWTH AND EVOLUTION OF MULTINATIONAL-ENTERPRISE - PEARCE,RD
  26. [Paul Celan und] Martin Heidegger
  27. Machine Learning for the Quantified Self
  28. Der Zentrale Runde Tisch der DDR: Wortprotokoll und Dokumente
  29. Materials by design