A multifaceted investigation of the link between mental fatigue and task disengagement

Authors

Jesper F. HOPSTAKEN, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
Dimitri VAN DER LINDEN, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
Arnold B. BAKKER, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University, Hong KongFollow
Michiel A. J. KOMPIER, Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Psychophysiology

Publication Date

3-1-2015

Volume

52

Issue

3

First Page

305

Last Page

315

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Inc.

Keywords

Fatigue, Motivation, P3, Pupil diameter, Task engagement

Abstract

Mental fatigue is often characterized by reduced motivation for effortful activity and impaired task performance. We used subjective, behavioral (performance), and psychophysiological (P3, pupil diameter) measures during an n-back task to investigate the link between mental fatigue and task disengagement. After 2h, we manipulated the rewards to examine a possible reengagement effect. Analyses showed that, with increasing fatigue and time-on-task, performance, P3 amplitude, and pupil diameter decreased. After increasing the rewards, all measures reverted to higher levels. Multilevel analysis revealed positive correlations between the used measures with time-on-task. We interpret these results as support for a strong link between task disengagement and mental fatigue.

DOI

10.1111/psyp.12339

Print ISSN

00485772

E-ISSN

14698986

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2014 Society for Psychophysiological Research. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Hopstaken, J. F., Van Der Linden, D., Bakker, A. B., & Kompier, M. A. J. (2015). A multifaceted investigation of the link between mental fatigue and task disengagement. Psychophysiology, 52(3), 305-315. doi: 10.1111/psyp.12339