[Effects of long term mental arithmetic on physiological parameters, subjective indices and task performances]

Full Abstract

This study examined the effects of long term mental arithmetic on physiological parameters, subjective indices and task performances to investigate the psychophysiological changes induced by mental tasks. Fifteen male university students performed six successive trials of a ten-minute mental arithmetic task. They took a five-minute resting period before and after the tasks. CFF (Critical Flicker Fusion frequency) and subjective fatigue scores using a visual analog scale, POMS (Profiles of Mood States) and SFF (Subjective Feelings of Fatigue) were obtained after each task and resting period. The voices of participants who were instructed to speak five Japanese vowels ('a', 'i', 'u', 'e', 'o') were recorded after each block to investigate a chaotic property of vocal signals that is reported to be changed by fatigue. Subjective workload ratings were also obtained by the NASA-TLX (National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index) after the task. Physiological signals of ECG (Electrocardiogram), PTG (Photoelectric Plethysmogram), SCL (Skin Conductance Level), TBV (Tissue Blood Volume) and Respiration were recorded for all experimental blocks. The number of answers, correct rates and average levels of task difficulty for each ten-minute task were used as task performance indices. In this experiment, the task performance did not decrease, whereas subjective fatigue increased. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system was suggested by physiological parameters.

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Author information

Author/s: Yamada, Shimpei (S); Miyake, Shinji (S);

Affiliation: Department of Environmental Management II, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational & Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Journal of UOEH (J UOEH), published in Japan. (Language: jpn)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 29 (issue 1) : pp 27-38

Dates: Created 2007/03/26; Completed 2007/05/15;

PMID: 17380727, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology
Humans
Male
Mathematics

Mental Fatigue - diagnosis; physiopathology
Mental Processes - physiology
Task Performance and Analysis
Time Factors
Workload - psychology

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