Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2026

The Treadmill Fatigue Test: A Simple, High-throughput Assay of Fatigue-like Behavior for the Mouse
Published on: May 31, 2016
Complaints of fatigue: related to too much as well as too little external stimulation?
A E de Rijk1, K M Schreurs, J M Bensing
1Department of Health Organisation, Policy and Economics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. A.deRijk@beo2.unimaas.nl
Abstract:
Fatigue has been acknowledged as a widespread problem associated with a variety of factors. In the present paper, we attempt to explain fatigue complaints on the basis of Pennebaker's (1982) "competition of cues" notion. Competition of cues suggests that both extremely low and extremely high levels of external stimulation in daily life may be related to relatively higher frequencies of complaint. The dimensional structure of external stimulation is first explored and then the shape of the relation between external stimulation (i.e., stimuli perceived in daily life) and fatigue was studied in a sample of 777 general-practice patients. Other risk factors for fatigue and moderating factors are also taken into consideration. Results show that quantity and quality of external stimulation can be distinguished. Both high quantity (high "experienced overload") and low quality (low "attractiveness of external stimulation") are related to higher fatigue frequencies. "Experienced overload" is a particularly strong predictor, in addition to "perceived health" of fatigue complaints. It is concluded that the "quality-quantity model for understanding fatigue" proposed here highlights psychological factors important for any theoretical framework of fatigue.
Related Concept Videos
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's phenomenon, is a...
Fatigue
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Optimal Arousal Theory
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...

