title: Short nap versus short rest: recuperative effects during VDT work.
abstract: The effects of a 20-min nap during 2 h of visual display terminal (VDT) work were examined. Ten young healthy adults took a 20-min nap or a 20-min rest I h after VDT work, followed by another 1 h of VDT work. A 20-min rest temporarily restored subjective sleepiness, but it deteriorated during the additional 1 h of work. In contrast, a 20-min nap maintained subjective alertness and performance level at a higher level and mental fatigue at a lower level for the additional 1 h of work. These results suggest that a short nap would be useful to both fatigue recovery and fatigue prevention during continuous VDT work. The present findings may provide a new work/rest strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Higashi-hiroshima, Japan. mhayasi@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Youhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chikazawa
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D016288:Computer Terminals; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D012146:Rest; D012890:Sleep; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors