The impact of Cognitive Load on endogenous and exogenous attention
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شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22089/ssrc.2024.4191
کد مقاله : 1157-SSRC
نویسندگان
استادیار دانشکده علوم انسانی دانشگاه دامغان
چکیده
Introduction
Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things. There are two main types of attentional processes - endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous attention refers to top-down, voluntary control of attention. It is internally directed, driven by our own goals, expectations, and knowledge. Exogenous attention, on the other hand, is bottom-up and stimulus-driven. It refers to involuntary orientation to sudden changes or highly salient stimuli in the environment that attract our attention. Cognitive or mental fatigue after prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity can significantly impair aspects of executive functioning. We examined how such fatigue may differentially impact top-down endogenous attention and stimulus-driven exogenous attention networks.
Methods
22 elite’s athletes participated voluntary in this experiment with two test sessions spaced 48 hours after the first session. In first session, the participants performed attention networks test (ANT) in which visual targets appeared at locations that were cued (endogenous condition) or uncued (exogenous condition). in general condition for 30 minutes, To induce cognitive fatigue, participants performed the Stroop test for one hour prior to completing ANT. Before beginning the Stroop test, participants filled out a visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaire to establish a baseline measure of subjective mental fatigue. Immediately upon completing the Stroop test, participants filled out the VAS questionnaire once again to assess cognitive fatigue after undergoing this task. and immediately they performed ANT.
Results
Reaction times to targets were significantly higher in the endogenous condition following fatigue compared to the control condition (p=0.01), indicating slower goal-directed attention. However, reaction times in the exogenous condition did not differ between fatigue states (p>0.3). The fatigue-related slowing of endogenous attention correlated with mental exhaustion ratings (p<0.05).
Conclusions
Cognitive fatigue specifically impairs higher-order endogenous attention, while leaving reflexive exogenous attention intact. This suggests top-down control requires greater mental effort when depleted. The correlation of fatigue effects with exhaustion ratings validates the attention findings. Loading cognition hampers the top-down control of attention, while preserving bottom-up external reactivity. These results bridge research on attention, fatigue, and self-regulation with practical implications for everyday functioning.
Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things. There are two main types of attentional processes - endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous attention refers to top-down, voluntary control of attention. It is internally directed, driven by our own goals, expectations, and knowledge. Exogenous attention, on the other hand, is bottom-up and stimulus-driven. It refers to involuntary orientation to sudden changes or highly salient stimuli in the environment that attract our attention. Cognitive or mental fatigue after prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity can significantly impair aspects of executive functioning. We examined how such fatigue may differentially impact top-down endogenous attention and stimulus-driven exogenous attention networks.
Methods
22 elite’s athletes participated voluntary in this experiment with two test sessions spaced 48 hours after the first session. In first session, the participants performed attention networks test (ANT) in which visual targets appeared at locations that were cued (endogenous condition) or uncued (exogenous condition). in general condition for 30 minutes, To induce cognitive fatigue, participants performed the Stroop test for one hour prior to completing ANT. Before beginning the Stroop test, participants filled out a visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaire to establish a baseline measure of subjective mental fatigue. Immediately upon completing the Stroop test, participants filled out the VAS questionnaire once again to assess cognitive fatigue after undergoing this task. and immediately they performed ANT.
Results
Reaction times to targets were significantly higher in the endogenous condition following fatigue compared to the control condition (p=0.01), indicating slower goal-directed attention. However, reaction times in the exogenous condition did not differ between fatigue states (p>0.3). The fatigue-related slowing of endogenous attention correlated with mental exhaustion ratings (p<0.05).
Conclusions
Cognitive fatigue specifically impairs higher-order endogenous attention, while leaving reflexive exogenous attention intact. This suggests top-down control requires greater mental effort when depleted. The correlation of fatigue effects with exhaustion ratings validates the attention findings. Loading cognition hampers the top-down control of attention, while preserving bottom-up external reactivity. These results bridge research on attention, fatigue, and self-regulation with practical implications for everyday functioning.
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