Fatigue has major implications in transportation system safety. Thirty five subjects were randomly assigned to a driver simulator task. Psychophysiological measures were obtained. Heart rate was significantly lower after the driving task. Electroencephalography changes during fatigue were significantly different to the alert baseline. Delta and theta activity increased the most during fatigue. Fast eye movements and conventional blinks during wakefulness were replaced by no eye movements and small fast rhythmic blinks during drowsiness. Increased trait anxiety, tension-anxiety, fatigue-inertia, fatigue levels and reduced vigor-activity were associated with increased delta and theta changes during transition to fatigue. State anxiety levels explained 16 percent delta variability during fatigue, while fatigue-inertia accounted for 35 percent. Twenty four percent of theta variability was accounted for by trait anxiety and fatigue status. The findings from the study are discussed in the light of directions for future fatigue studies and for the development of a fatigue counter measure device. (A)
Samenvatting