[Mental fatigue assessment based on physiological signals].

OBJECTIVE

To assess mental fatigue by noninvasive monitoring of the physiological signals.

METHODS

The changes in the physiological parameters including the electrodermal activity, heart rate and heart rate variability were analyzed in 14 subjects performing the reaction-time tasks when fatigue and changes in the reaction time occurred.

RESULTS

The average skin conductance level, average heart rate, and heart rate variability parameters including the total power density, percentage of the very low power density, percentage of high power density all differed significantly between the sober state and the mental fatigue state.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring the physiological parameters including the electrodermal activity, heart rate and heart rate variability is a noninvasive, effective and practical approach to mental fatigue assessment.