Frontal theta activity reflects distinct aspects of mental fatigue

Wascher, Edmund; Rasch, Björn; Sänger, Jessica; Hoffmann, Sven; Schneider, Daniel; Rinkenauer, Gerhard; Heuer, Herbert; Gutberlet, Ingmar

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.11.010

Cited by 349 publications

(328 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Instead, the theta dynamics we have observed may reflect memory load, mental effort, or binding of widely distributed cortical assemblies (Sammer et al, 2007;Wascher et al, 2014;Zakrzewska and Brzezicka, 2014). Such studies will help elucidate how midfrontal theta dynamics underlie good everyday self-regulation and decision making (e.g., Ertl et al, 2013;Knyazev 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Midfrontal theta and pupil dilation parametrically track subjective conflict (but also surprise) during intertemporal choice

et al. 2018

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2 Highlights •Modeled conflict during intertemporal choice and measured EEG and pupil responses.• Midfrontal theta and pupil responses parametrically tracked subjective conflict.• But theta and pupil responses were also large when decisions were surprisingly easy.• These signals may implement adaptive control during value-guided choice.3 AbstractMany everyday choices are based on personal, subjective preferences. When choosing between two options, we often feel conflicted, especially when trading off costs and benefits occurring at different times (e.g., saving for later versus spending now).Although previous work has investigated the neurophysiological basis of conflict during inhibitory control tasks, less is known about subjective conflict resulting from competing subjective preferences. In this pre-registered study, we investigated subjective conflict during intertemporal choice, whereby participants chose between smaller immediate versus larger delayed rewards (e.g., $15 today vs. $22 in 30 days). We used economic modeling to parametrically vary eleven different levels of conflict, and recorded EEG data and pupil dilation. Midfrontal theta power, derived from EEG, correlated with pupil responses, and our results suggest that these signals track different gradations of subjective conflict. Unexpectedly, both signals were also maximally enhanced when decisions were surprisingly easy. Therefore, these signals may track events requiring increased attention and adaptive shifts in behavioral responses, with subjective conflict being only one type of such event. Our results suggest that the neural systems underlying midfrontal theta and pupil responses interact when weighing costs and benefits during intertemporal choice. Thus, understanding these interactions might elucidate how individuals resolve self-control conflicts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Midfrontal theta and pupil dilation parametrically track subjective conflict (but also surprise) during intertemporal choice

et al. 2018

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“…Sustained mental efficiency in cognitively demanding activities leads to the exhaustion of cognitive resources and to a state of so-called "mental fatigue" [1]. Among many factors, mental fatigue is considered to be a contributing factor responsible for numerous road accidents or other potentially adverse incidents [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroencephalogram assessment of mental fatigue in visual search

Fan

Zhou

Liu

et al. 2015

BME

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Abstract. Mental fatigue is considered to be a contributing factor responsible for numerous road accidents and various medical conditions and the efficiency and performance could be impaired during fatigue. Hence, determining how to evaluate mental fatigue is very important. In the present study, ten subjects performed a long-term visual search task with electroencephalogram recorded, and self-assessment and reaction time (RT) were combined to verify if mental fatigue had been induced and were also used as confirmatory tests for the proposed measures. The changes in relative energy in four wavebands į ș Į and ȕ), four ratio formulas [(D + T)/E, D/E, (D + T)/(D + E), and T/E], and Shannon's entropy (SE) were compared and analyzed between the beginning and end of the task. The results showed that a significant increase occurred in alpha activity in the frontal, central, posterior temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, and a dip occurred in the beta activity in the pre-frontal, inferior frontal, posterior temporal, and occipital lobes. The ratio formulas clearly increased in all of these brain regions except the temporal region, where only D/E changed obviously after finishing the 60-min visual search task. SE significantly increased in the posterior temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. These results demonstrate some potential indicators for mental fatigue detection and evaluation, which can be applied in the future development of countermeasures to fatigue.

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“…dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior prefrontal cortex (APFC) and somatosensory association cortex (SAC)). Specific changes in brain-activity in this part of the cortex have frequently been associated with an impaired cognitive performance and mental fatigue (2,11,14,36).…”

Section: A C C E P T E Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity and is characterized by various subjective, physiological and behavioral alterations. It is manifested as an acute increase in subjective ratings of fatigue (4,16,17,33), specific electroencephalography (EEG) alterations (4,11,36) and/or an acute decline in cognitive performance (17,33). Often it is induced by a response inhibition task (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Mental Fatigue on Endurance Performance in the Heat

Cutsem

Pauw

Buyse

et al. 2017

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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Purpose: Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity and has been observed to decrease time-trial (TT) endurance performance by ~3,5% in normal ambient temperatures. Recently it has been suggested that heat may augment the negative effect of mental fatigue on cognitive performance, raising the question whether it may also amplify the effect of mental fatigue on TT-performance. Methods: In 30 °C and 30% relative humidity, ten endurance-trained male athletes (Age: 22 ± 3 y; W max : 332 ± 41 W) completed two experimental conditions: intervention (I; 45-min Stroop task) and control (C; 45-min documentary). Pre and post intervention/control, cognitive performance was followed up with a 5-min Flanker task. Thereafter subjects cycled for 45 min at a fixed pace equal to 60%-W max , immediately followed by a self-paced TT in which they had to produce a fixed amount of work (equal to cycling 15 min at 80%-W max ) as fast as possible. Results: Self-reported mental fatigue was significantly higher after I compared to C (P<0.05). Moreover electroencephalographic measures also indicated the occurrence of mental fatigue during the Stroop (P<0.05). TT-time did not differ between conditions (I: 906 ± 30 s, C: 916 ± 29 s).Throughout exercise, physiological (heart rate, blood lactate, core and skin temperature) and perceptual measures (perception of effort and thermal sensation) were not affected by mental fatigue. Conclusion: No negative effects of mild mental fatigue were observed on performance and the physiological and perceptual responses to endurance exercise in the heat. Most plausibly mild mental fatigue does not reduce endurance performance when the brain is already stressed by a hot environment.

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Frontal theta activity reflects distinct aspects of mental fatigue

Cited by 349 publications

References 56 publications

Midfrontal theta and pupil dilation parametrically track subjective conflict (but also surprise) during intertemporal choice

Midfrontal theta and pupil dilation parametrically track subjective conflict (but also surprise) during intertemporal choice

Electroencephalogram assessment of mental fatigue in visual search

Effects of Mental Fatigue on Endurance Performance in the Heat

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