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Abstract
The effects of mental fatigue on the availability of cognitive resources and associated
response-related processes were examined using event-related brain potentials. Subjects
performed a Go/NoGo task for 60 min. Reaction time, number of errors, and mental fatigue
scores all significantly increased with time spent on the task. The NoGo-P3 amplitude
significantly decreased with time on task, but the Go-P3 amplitude was not modulated.
The amplitude of error-related negativity (Ne/ERN) also decreased with time on task.
These results indicate that mental fatigue attenuates resource allocation and error
monitoring for NoGo stimuli. The Go- and NoGo-P3 latencies both increased with time
on task, indicative of a delay in stimulus evaluation time due to mental fatigue.
NoGo-N2 latency increased with time on task, but NoGo-N2 amplitude was not modulated.
The amplitude of response-locked lateralized readiness potential (LRP) significantly
decreased with time on task. Mental fatigue appears to slows down the time course
of response inhibition, and impairs the intensity of response execution.