Mental fatigue is commonplace but there is limited understanding of the neural underpinnings of its development, the time course of its recovery, and its impact on motor function. Hence, this study used neural (electroencephalography) and motor measures to investigate the development and recovery of mental fatigue. Twenty participants performed a 60-min N-back task, with neural activity compared within the task. Additionally, pre-task neural and motor measures were compared to assessments beginning at 0, 30 and 60 min post-task. Alpha power increased during the task and was greater than baseline at 30 and 60 min post-task. Motor skills were impaired at ∼10–17 min post-task but recovered at ∼40–47 min. Using a unique combination of neural and motor measures, our results suggest that attentiveness and, possibly, selectiveness in inhibiting irrelevant information are impaired after an acute mentally-fatiguing task. Notably, recovery time differed for neural and motor measures.

精神疲劳是司空见惯的事情，但对其发展的神经基础，恢复的时程及其对运动功能的影响了解甚少。因此，本研究使用神经（脑电图）和运动学方法来研究精神疲劳的发生和恢复。二十名参与者执行了60分钟的N背任务，并且在任务中比较了神经活动。此外，将任务前的神经和运动测量值与在任务后0、30和60分钟开始的评估进行了比较。任务期间，α功率增加，并且在任务后30分钟和60分钟时均大于基线。运动技能在任务后约10-17分钟受损，但在约40-47分钟恢复。使用神经和运动测量的独特组合，我们的结果表明，专注力以及可能的是，急性精神疲劳任务后，抑制无关信息的选择性受到损害。值得注意的是，神经和运动措施的恢复时间有所不同。