Effects of interruption on work performance and the moderating effects of mental fatigue

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2023.00022

Abstract

Abstract:

Task interruptions have an impact on performance after interruption. Exploring the cognitive mechanism of interruption's impact on performance under different fatigue conditions will help improve and develop the cognitive theory of interruption. In this study, combining behavioral data and ERPs results, we analyzed the effect of task interruption on performance and the moderating effect of mental fatigue by performing spatial 2-back tasks with interruption, suspension, and non-interruption under different mental fatigue conditions. The results showed that the amplitudes of P200 and P300 induced by interruption were significantly increased, the attention resources were decreased by interruption, and the irrelevant information of task interruption interfered with the working memory of the primary task. Moreover, the fatigue state further aggravated the negative effects of interruption on attention resources, working memory, and behavior performance. This study reveals the cognitive process of interruption and the mechanism underlying the influence of fatigue on interruption, and supports the memory for goals model.

Key words: work interruption, working memory, attention processing, fatigue

CHEN Yueyuan, FANG Weining, GUO Beiyuan, BAO Haifeng. (2023). Effects of interruption on work performance and the moderating effects of mental fatigue. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 55(1), 22-35.

Figures/Tables 12

References 62

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Fatigue state	Task Type	Type of trial	Accuracy (%, M ± SD)	Reaction time (ms, M ± SD)
Non-fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	98 ± 3	594.55 ± 143.29
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	89 ± 11	722.95 ± 132.38
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	97 ± 3	604.17 ± 142.46
	Suspension	Post-interruption	92 ± 12	696.47 ± 146.45
	Baseline	—	95 ± 5	621.67 ± 157.42
Fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	95 ± 5	685.48 ± 146.06
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	83 ± 17	848.49 ± 193.35
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	95 ± 4	710.20 ± 154.31
	Suspension	Post-interruption	85 ± 14	782.04 ± 153.78
	Baseline	—	92 ± 8	712.86 ± 143.32

Fatigue state	Task Type	Type of trial	Accuracy (%, M ± SD)	Reaction time (ms, M ± SD)
Non-fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	98 ± 3	594.55 ± 143.29
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	89 ± 11	722.95 ± 132.38
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	97 ± 3	604.17 ± 142.46
	Suspension	Post-interruption	92 ± 12	696.47 ± 146.45
	Baseline	—	95 ± 5	621.67 ± 157.42
Fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	95 ± 5	685.48 ± 146.06
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	83 ± 17	848.49 ± 193.35
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	95 ± 4	710.20 ± 154.31
	Suspension	Post-interruption	85 ± 14	782.04 ± 153.78
	Baseline	—	92 ± 8	712.86 ± 143.32

Fatigue state	Task Type	Trial Type	Mean amplitude of P200 (μV, M ± SD)	P200 peak latency (ms, M ± SD)	Mean amplitude of P300 (μV, M ± SD)	P300 peak latency (ms, M ± SD)
Non-fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	3.35 ± 3.45	233 ± 25	4.63 ± 3.19	360 ± 34
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	4.37 ± 3.60	235 ± 25	7.31 ± 3.41	369 ± 28
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	3.55 ± 3.72	235 ± 27	5.31 ± 3.32	360 ± 35
	Suspension	Post-interruption	4.71 ± 3.84	237 ± 22	4.96 ± 3.67	359 ± 38
	Baseline	—	3.51 ± 3.57	234 ± 26	4.56 ± 3.50	362 ± 30
Fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	3.90 ± 2.89	228 ± 18	4.04 ± 2.91	359 ± 34
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	4.78 ± 3.22	235 ± 26	6.91 ± 3.80	362 ± 31
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	3.67 ± 2.82	227 ± 22	3.94 ± 3.44	355 ± 32
	Suspension	Post-interruption	4.68 ± 2.85	235 ± 22	4.47 ± 3.39	362 ± 37
	Baseline	—	3.97 ± 2.69	228 ± 22	4.16 ± 3.12	357 ± 31

Fatigue state	Task Type	Trial Type	Mean amplitude of P200 (μV, M ± SD)	P200 peak latency (ms, M ± SD)	Mean amplitude of P300 (μV, M ± SD)	P300 peak latency (ms, M ± SD)
Non-fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	3.35 ± 3.45	233 ± 25	4.63 ± 3.19	360 ± 34
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	4.37 ± 3.60	235 ± 25	7.31 ± 3.41	369 ± 28
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	3.55 ± 3.72	235 ± 27	5.31 ± 3.32	360 ± 35
	Suspension	Post-interruption	4.71 ± 3.84	237 ± 22	4.96 ± 3.67	359 ± 38
	Baseline	—	3.51 ± 3.57	234 ± 26	4.56 ± 3.50	362 ± 30
Fatigue	Task interruption	Pre-interruption	3.90 ± 2.89	228 ± 18	4.04 ± 2.91	359 ± 34
	Task interruption	Post-interruption	4.78 ± 3.22	235 ± 26	6.91 ± 3.80	362 ± 31
	Suspension	Pre-interruption	3.67 ± 2.82	227 ± 22	3.94 ± 3.44	355 ± 32
	Suspension	Post-interruption	4.68 ± 2.85	235 ± 22	4.47 ± 3.39	362 ± 37
	Baseline	—	3.97 ± 2.69	228 ± 22	4.16 ± 3.12	357 ± 31