Psychophysiological changes during a VDU repetitive task

Experimental evidence for the effects of task repetitiveness on mental strain and objective work performance

“…We will return to these issues in greater detail below. In general, findings from experimental research on task repetitiveness support the conclusions of field studies regarding well‐being: High task repetitiveness resulted in increased self‐reported boredom, irritation, and unpleasantness (Lundberg, Melin, Evans, & Holmberg, ), elevated heart rate (Floru, Cail, & Elias, ) and adrenaline excretion (Cox, Cox, Thirlaway, & Mackay, 1982a; Weber, Fussler, O'Hanlon, Gierer, & Granjean, ), higher self‐reported stress (Cox, Mackay, & Page, 1982b), increased strain and loss of motivation (Freude, Ullsperger, & Mölle, ), and sympathetic activation and changes in respiratory activity (Ohsuga, Shimono, & Genno, ).…”

System response time and method of pay: cardiovascular stress effects in computer-based tasks*

“…These temporal effects occurred irrespective of response time and method of pay, and they are indicative of reduced effort or increased mental fatigue associated with performing the data entry task for sustained periods of time. Psychophysiological studies of the temporal effects of light, repetitive work also have found similar decreases in heart rate and increases in heart rate variability that are consistent with increased mental fatigue (Floru et al 1985, Weber et al 1980 Another physiological effect associated with performing the data entry task, which occurred irrespective of response time or method of pay, was the increase in heart rate and systolic blood pressure, and decrease in heart rate variability, from the morning to the afternoon work session. This temporal pattern is consistent with a morning to afternoon circadian rhythm effect (Minors and Waterhouse, 1985).…”

“…Extended performance of light repetitive tasks has been associated with increased urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline (Cox et al 1982), reduced heart rate variability under increased mental loads (Weber et al 1980), and decreased heart rate (Floru et al 1985) and increased heart rate variability associated with mental fatigue (Weber et al 1980, Floru et al 1985.A better understanding ofthe temporal effects of repetitive computer-based tasks would be helpful in developing remedial measures (e.g., optimal work-rest regimens) that are designed to reduce psychophysiological stress reactions.…”

Validation of a recording system for computer pointing device activity

“…Furthermore, future study is merited that would explore new indices derived from the electronic activity records collected by the Mlog monitoring program to assess computer users' work load with computer tasks: for example, key holding time for clicking actions between pressing and releasing a key, or the speed and/or acceleration of pointing device moving action. For computer work load assessments, many studies find evidence of reduced task performance after 40-60 min of typing or data entry, but the cause has not been well documented (Floru et al, 1985;Gerard et al, 1996;Lin et al, 2004). However, since computer work involves only low-force repetitions of hand/finger movements, it is likely that conventional instruments for muscular fatigue measurement, such as surface electromyography (sEMG), may not be sensitive enough to detect such muscular fatigue, if any exists (Gerard et al, 1996;Lin et al, 2004).…”