Cognitive Fatigue, Task State, Attention, and Sleepiness: The Impact on Visual Working Memory Accuracy
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Authors
Ruberto, Aaron
Date
2025-01-16
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Visual Working Memory , Cognitive Fatigue , Attention , Sleepiness , Mind Wandering
Alternative Title
Abstract
Cognitive fatigue, mind wandering, attentional lapses, and increased levels of sleepiness are all constructs that have similar associates, including decreased performance on working memory tasks. Despite the extensive literature studying these cognitive processes, there are no experiments that have examined the impact of an individual’s baseline cognitive fatigue and subsequent performance on visual working memory performance while simultaneously assessing fluctuations in attention, task state, and sleepiness. In this study, participants remotely completed a baseline cognitive fatigue questionnaire followed by an online visual working memory task. The task assessed a participants visual working memory accuracy utilizing a six-grid memory array. An intra-experimental probe delivered during the task concurrently evaluated the participant’s level of attention, sleepiness, and task state. There was a weakly positive correlation between pre-experiment cognitive fatigue and both intra-experiment sleepiness and the frequency with which participants reported being in an externally distracted task state. A subsequent post-hoc analysis utilizing a linear mixed-effects model suggested that mean visual working memory accuracy was highest when a participant was in the on-task or task-related interference state and was decreased significantly when participants rated themselves as mind wandering or in an externally distracted state. Mean visual working memory accuracy also increased when participants rated themselves as having higher levels of attention. There were also notable moderations and interactions between variables. First, mind wandering significantly reduced the positive effect of attention on visual working memory accuracy. Second, there was a significant interaction between sleepiness and task state such that when participants were in a state of mind wandering or external distraction, the decrease in visual working memory accuracy was larger the sleepier someone reported being. The results contribute to the growing body of knowledge that demonstrates significant and overlapping relationships of the cognitive processes of task-state, attention, and sleepiness on visual working memory. Furthermore, this study shows the viability of delivering an integrated visual working memory task with an intra-experimental probe to participants remotely as opposed to traditional in-person data collection.
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Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
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Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International