Japanese scientists from the University of Tsukuba have found a new way to detect cognitive fatigue based on the condition of a person’s pupils. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Computers in Human Behavior (CHB).
Cognitive fatigue occurs during intense and prolonged mental stress, both during intellectual work and when participating in e-sports competitions. It manifests itself with memory impairment, attention deficit, loss of energy and sleep problems.
The team recruited 35 young people, some of whom play video games for fun and others are interested in competitive e-sports.
Participants completed a pre-experiment assessment that included body composition analysis and a pre-survey to assess gaming habits, physical activity levels, and sleep patterns. They were asked to stay away from alcohol and caffeine and exercise to ensure the same physiological conditions on the test day.
Volunteers played virtual football in separate rooms for three hours to maintain constant visual stimulation.
Players first showed improvement in executive functions after an hour of play. However, after two hours, cognitive performance decreased in both casual and professional players. This decrease was manifested by an increase in reaction time and a decrease in accuracy in performing cognitive tasks.
The most interesting discovery was the visible reduction in pupil diameter after more than two hours of continuous play. This reaction was observed in both gamblers and gamblers and indicated reduced physiological arousal.
Pupil diameter is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and may reflect changes in cognitive load and fatigue. The researchers found that pupil diameter decreases as cognitive fatigue increases, suggesting that this may be a reliable indicator of mental fatigue.
At the same time, gamers noticed that symptoms of fatigue appeared only after three hours of continuous gameplay. This discrepancy suggests that players may not be fully aware of the decline in their cognitive abilities, leading to the potential for overexertion without even realizing it.
The researchers concluded that pupil diameter is a promising, non-invasive marker for detecting cognitive fatigue during long-term digital activities such as e-sports.
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Source: Gazeta
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