Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Estimate the Cognitive Load Using Electrocardiographic Measure: A Human-AI Collaborative Task
Published on: December 5, 2025
A multifaceted investigation of the link between mental fatigue and task disengagement
Jesper F Hopstaken1, Dimitri van der Linden, Arnold B Bakker
1Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Mental fatigue is often characterized by reduced motivation for effortful activity and impaired task performance. We used subjective, behavioral (performance), and psychophysiological (P3, pupil diameter) measures during an n-back task to investigate the link between mental fatigue and task disengagement. After 2 h, we manipulated the rewards to examine a possible reengagement effect. Analyses showed that, with increasing fatigue and time-on-task, performance, P3 amplitude, and pupil diameter decreased. After increasing the rewards, all measures reverted to higher levels. Multilevel analysis revealed positive correlations between the used measures with time-on-task. We interpret these results as support for a strong link between task disengagement and mental fatigue.
More Related Videos
06:11High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex to Enhance Metacognitive Sensitivity
Published on: September 26, 2025
13:20Online Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Dorsomedial and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Cognition Decision Making, and Cognitive Dissonance
Published on: December 5, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Dissonance
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
Self-Regulation
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Primary Appraisal:...