title: Sustained attention is associated with error processing impairment: evidence from mental fatigue study in four-choice reaction time task.
abstract: Attention is important in error processing. Few studies have examined the link between sustained attention and error processing. In this study, we examined how error-related negativity (ERN) of a four-choice reaction time task was reduced in the mental fatigue condition and investigated the role of sustained attention in error processing. Forty-one recruited participants were divided into two groups. In the fatigue experiment group, 20 subjects performed a fatigue experiment and an additional continuous psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) for 1 h. In the normal experiment group, 21 subjects only performed the normal experimental procedures without the PVT test. Fatigue and sustained attention states were assessed with a questionnaire. Event-related potential results showed that ERN (p < 0.005) and peak (p < 0.05) mean amplitudes decreased in the fatigue experiment. ERN amplitudes were significantly associated with the attention and fatigue states in electrodes Fz, FC1, Cz, and FC2. These findings indicated that sustained attention was related to error processing and that decreased attention is likely the cause of error processing impairment.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China; School of Aerospace, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China; Department of Ergonomics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University(BUAA), Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yixuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Gui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China; Department of Ergonomics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University(BUAA), Beijing, China.
authors.forename: FengGang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shanguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult