Influence of interpolated periods of activity and inactivity upon the vigilance decrement

Abstract

4 INDEPENDENT GROUPS WERE OBSERVED IN A SIMPLE VISUAL DETECTION TASK. THE CONTROL GROUP, WHICH MONITORED THE DISPLAY CONTINUOUSLY FOR 90 MIN., SUFFERED A RELIABLE DECREMENT IN PERFORMANCE DURING THE COURSE OF OBSERVATION. 1 EXPERIMENTAL GROUP ENGAGED IN VIGOROUS PHYSICAL EXCERCISE FOR 5 MIN. AFTER EACH 30 MIN. OF WATCH-KEEPING, THE 2ND GROUP SOLVED ANAGRAMS FOR 5-MIN PERIODS, AND THE 3RD WAS SUBJECTED TO 5-MIN PERIODS OF SENSORY RESTRICTION. ALL OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS PERFORMED THE VIGILANCE TASK AT A HIGH LEVEL WITHOUT DECREMENT THROUGHOUT. THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCCESSIVE CHANGE IN INPUT ARE DISCUSSED. (32 REF.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)