The Effect of Fatigue on Working Memory and Auditory Perceptual Abilities in Trained Musicians

Through the Pupils' Lens: Multilingual Effort in First and Second Language Listening

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to examine the involvement of listening effort among multilinguals in their first (L1) and second (L2) languages in quiet and noisy listening conditions and investigate how the presence of a constraining context within sentences influences listening effort.

DESIGN

A group of 46 young adult Arabic (L1)-Hebrew (L2) multilinguals participated in a listening task. This task aimed to assess participants' perceptual performance and the effort they exert (as measured through pupillometry) while listening to single words and sentences presented in their L1 and L2, in quiet and noisy environments (signal to noise ratio = 0 dB).

RESULTS

Listening in quiet was easier than in noise, supported by both perceptual and pupillometry results. Perceptually, multilinguals performed similarly and reached ceiling levels in both languages in quiet. However, under noisy conditions, perceptual accuracy was significantly lower in L2, especially when processing sentences. Critically, pupil dilation was larger and more prolonged when listening to L2 than L1 stimuli. This difference was observed even in the quiet condition. Contextual support resulted in better perceptual performance of high-predictability sentences compared with low-predictability sentences, but only in L1 under noisy conditions. In L2, pupillometry showed increased effort when listening to high-predictability sentences compared with low-predictability sentences, but this increased effort did not lead to better understanding. In fact, in noise, speech perception was lower in high-predictability L2 sentences compared with low-predictability ones.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the importance of examining listening effort in multilingual speech processing and suggest that increased effort may be present in multilingual's L2 within clinical and educational settings.

The effects of mental fatigue on explicit and implicit contributions to visuomotor adaptation

The goal of the current research was to establish the impact of mental fatigue on the contributions of explicit (i.e., conscious strategy) and implicit (unconscious) processes to visuomotor adaptation. Participants were divided into two groups, a Mental Fatigue (MF) group who completed a cognitively demanding 32-minute time load dual back task (TLDB), and a Control group who watched a documentary for a similar length of time. Following the TLDB task or documentary watching, participants trained to reach with a visuomotor distortion, such that cursor feedback was rotated 40º clockwise relative to hand motion. Explicit and implicit contributions to visuomotor adaptation were assessed following 3 blocks of 45 rotated reach training trials and again following a 20-minute rest. Levels of mental fatigue, as indicated on a self-report scale, increased significantly for the MF group following the TLDB task. The Control group did not display a similar increase in mental fatigue following the documentary watching. Results then revealed a decrease in visuomotor adaptation early in training for the MF group compared to the Control group, as well as decreased retention of visuomotor adaptation immediately following the 20-minute rest. Furthermore, correlational analyses revealed that greater levels of mental fatigue reported by participants in the MF group were associated with less explicit adaptation and greater implicit adaptation. Similar trends were not observed for the Control group. Taken together, the decreased visuomotor adaptation observed early in training, as well as the moderate correlation between increased mental fatigue and decreased explicit adaptation, suggest that mental fatigue decreases one's ability to engage in explicit processing, limiting the overall extent of initial visuomotor adaptation achieved.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback training regulates time-on-task effects and enhances sustained cognitive performance

Time-on-task effect is a common consequence of long-term cognitive demand work, which reflects reduced behavioral performance and increases the risk of accidents. Neurofeedback is a neuromodulation method that can guide individuals to regulate their brain activity and manifest as changes in related symptoms and cognitive behaviors. This study aimed to examine the effects of functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback training on time-on-task effects and sustained cognitive performance. A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled study was performed: 17 participants received feedback signals of their own dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity (neurofeedback group), and 16 participants received feedback signals of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity from the neurofeedback group (sham-neurofeedback group). All participants received 5 neurofeedback training sessions and completed 2 sustained cognitive tasks, including a 2-back task and a psychomotor vigilance task, to evaluate behavioral performance changes following neurofeedback training. Results showed that neurofeedback relative to the sham-neurofeedback group exhibited increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation, increased accuracy in the 2-back task, and decreased mean response time in the psychomotor vigilance task after neurofeedback training. In addition, the neurofeedback group showed slower decline performance during the sustained 2-back task after neurofeedback training compared with sham-neurofeedback group. These findings demonstrate that neurofeedback training could regulate time-on-task effects on difficult task and enhance performance on sustained cognitive tasks by increasing dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity.

Visual perceptual processing is unaffected by cognitive fatigue

Cognitive fatigue (CF) can lead to an increase in the latency of simple reaction time, although the processes involved in this delay are unknown. One potential explanation is that a longer time may be required for sensory processing of relevant stimuli. To investigate this possibility, the current study used a visual inspection time task to measure perceptual processing speed before and after a CF (math and memory) or non-fatiguing (documentary film) intervention. Subjective fatigue and simple reaction time significantly increased following the CF, but not the non-fatiguing intervention, confirming that CF was induced. Conversely, there was no effect of CF on inspection time task performance. It was therefore concluded that the speed of perceptual processing is not significantly impacted by CF, and thus is unlikely to underlie CF-related reaction time increases. Instead, increases in simple reaction time latency in CF may be due to delays in response preparation or initiation.

Interaction Between Memory Load and Experimental Design on Brain Connectivity and Network Topology

The conventional approach to investigating functional connectivity in the block-designed study usually concatenates task blocks or employs residuals of task activation. While providing many insights into brain functions, the block design adds more manipulation in functional network analysis that may reduce the purity of the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal. Recent studies utilized one single long run for task trials of the same condition, the so-called continuous design, to investigate functional connectivity based on task functional magnetic resonance imaging. Continuous brain activities associated with the single-task condition can be directly utilized for task-related functional connectivity assessment, which has been examined for working memory, sensory, motor, and semantic task experiments in previous research. But it remains unclear how the block and continuous design influence the assessment of task-related functional connectivity networks. This study aimed to disentangle the separable effects of block/continuous design and working memory load on task-related functional connectivity networks, by using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Across 50 young healthy adults, behavioral results of accuracy and reaction time showed a significant main effect of design as well as interaction between design and load. Imaging results revealed that the cingulo-opercular, fronto-parietal, and default model networks were associated with not only task activation, but significant main effects of design and load as well as their interaction on intra- and inter-network functional connectivity and global network topology. Moreover, a significant behavior-brain association was identified for the continuous design. This work has extended the evidence that continuous design can be used to study task-related functional connectivity and subtle brain-behavioral relationships.

Are musical activities associated with enhanced speech perception in noise in adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis

The ability to process speech in noise (SPiN) declines with age, with a detrimental impact on life quality. Music-making activities such as singing and playing a musical instrument have raised interest as potential prevention strategies for SPiN perception decline because of their positive impact on several brain system, especially the auditory system, which is critical for SPiN. However, the literature on the effect of musicianship on SPiN performance has yielded mixed results. By critically assessing the existing literature with a systematic review and a meta-analysis, we aim to provide a comprehensive portrait of the relationship between music-making activities and SPiN in different experimental conditions. 38/49 articles, most focusing on young adults, were included in the quantitative analysis. The results show a positive relationship between music-making activities and SPiN, with the strongest effects found in the most challenging listening conditions, and little to no effect in less challenging situations. This pattern of results supports the notion of a relative advantage for musicians on SPiN performance and clarify the scope of this effect. However, further studies, especially with older adults, using adequate randomization methods, are needed to extend the present conclusions and assess the potential for musical activities to be used to mitigate SPiN decline in seniors.

Associations between welding fume exposure and neurological function in Japanese male welders and non-welders

OBJECTIVES

There are some studies reporting the association between (manganese [Mn]) exposure to welding fume and neurological dysfunction. This study examined the relationship between Mn exposure and neurological behavior in Japanese male welders and non-welders using biological samples, which to date has not been assessed in Japan.

METHODS

A total of 94 male welders and 95 male non-welders who worked in the same factories were recruited. The blood and urine samples were obtained from all the participants to measure Mn exposure levels. Neurological function tests were also conducted with all participants. The sampling of the breathing air zone using a personal sampler was measured for welders only.

RESULTS

The odds ratios (ORs) for the Working Memory Index (WMI) scores were significantly higher among all participants in the low blood Mn concentration group than those in the high blood Mn concentration group (OR, 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24, 6.19; P = .013). The association of WMI scores and blood Mn levels in welders had the highest OR (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.04, 13.38; P = .043). Although not statistically significant, a mild relationship between WMI scores and blood Mn levels was observed in non-welders (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 0.63, 6.94; P = .227).

CONCLUSIONS

The results revealed a significant positive relationship between blood Mn and neurological dysfunction in welders. Furthermore, non-welders at the same factories may be secondarily exposed to welding fumes. Further research is needed to clarify this possibility.

Slowed reaction times in cognitive fatigue are not attributable to declines in motor preparation

Cognitive fatigue (CF) can result from sustained mental effort, is characterized by subjective feelings of exhaustion and cognitive performance deficits, and is associated with slowed simple reaction time (RT). This study determined whether declines in motor preparation underlie this RT effect. Motor preparation level was indexed using simple RT and the StartReact effect, wherein a prepared movement is involuntarily triggered at short latency by a startling acoustic stimulus (SAS). It was predicted that if decreased motor preparation underlies CF-associated RT increases, then an attenuated StartReact effect would be observed following cognitive task completion. Subjective fatigue assessment and a simple RT task were performed before and after a cognitively fatiguing task or non-fatiguing control intervention. On 25% of RT trials, a SAS replaced the go-signal to assess the StartReact effect. CF inducement was verified by significant declines in cognitive performance (p = 0.003), along with increases in subjective CF (p < 0.001) and control RT (p = 0.018) following the cognitive fatigue intervention, but not the control intervention. No significant pre-to-post-test changes in SAS RT were observed, indicating that RT increases resulting from CF are not substantially associated with declines in motor preparation, and instead may be attributable to other stages of processing during a simple RT task.

The Skill Training of Reading Music in the Teaching of Solfeggio and Ear Training in the New Media Environment

Culture is a powerful spiritual force rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people and guides the direction of the Chinese people. Sight singing and ear training are playing an increasingly important role as an important means of music teaching. The article is aimed at studying the latest application progress of music reading skills in audiovisual ear training in the new media environment. This paper proposes the interactive application of music reading skills that integrate new media to realize the interactive communication between man and machine. The experimental results of this paper show that new media can make greater use of the advantages of music reading skills, enhance students' musical sensitivity by 20%, and realize musical interaction.

Repetition of anchor stimuli and nature of vocal samples in the perceptual auditory judgment performed by speech-language pathology students

PURPOSE

Verify the effect of anchor repetition in the perceptual auditory judgement of the type of vocal deviation performed by speech-language pathology (SLP) students; analyze the correlation between the amount of different vocal dimensions in the same stimuli and accuracy; investigate the correlation between type of vocal deviation and accuracy.

METHODS

54 SLP students were divided in two groups: Group with repetition (GwR), 28 students; and, Group with no repetition (GnR), 26 students. The analyzed sample counted with 220 dysphonic human voices, vowel /ε/. The GwR heard three anchor stimuli before the judgement and every 20 voices during the assessment. The GnR heard the anchor only before beginning the judgement. The anchor stimuli counted with one rough, one breathy and one strain voice. These classifications were compared with reference judgements from three expert SLPs. The intra and inter-rater reliability, the correlation between the amount of different vocal dimensions in the same stimuli and type of vocal deviation with accuracy were assessed.

RESULTS

The accuracy between type of deviation was similar among groups. The GwR presented slightly higher intra and inter-rater reliability. The student's accuracy was inversely proportional to the amount of different vocal dimensions in the stimuli. Breathiness presented the highest accuracy and strain presented the lowest accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The repetition of anchor stimuli improved intra and inter-rater reliability. However, it was not effective in the accuracy of the type of vocal deviation. The amount of different vocal dimensions in the stimuli have influence in the students' accuracy.

Application of Eye Tracking Technology in Aviation, Maritime, and Construction Industries: A Systematic Review

Most accidents in the aviation, maritime, and construction industries are caused by human error, which can be traced back to impaired mental performance and attention failure. In 1596, Du Laurens, a French anatomist and medical scientist, said that the eyes are the windows of the mind. Eye tracking research dates back almost 150 years and it has been widely used in different fields for several purposes. Overall, eye tracking technologies provide the means to capture in real time a variety of eye movements that reflect different human cognitive, emotional, and physiological states, which can be used to gain a wider understanding of the human mind in different scenarios. This systematic literature review explored the different applications of eye tracking research in three high-risk industries, namely aviation, maritime, and construction. The results of this research uncovered the demographic distribution and applications of eye tracking research, as well as the different technologies that have been integrated to study the visual, cognitive, and attentional aspects of human mental performance. Moreover, different research gaps and potential future research directions were highlighted in relation to the usage of additional technologies to support, validate, and enhance eye tracking research to better understand human mental performance.