Bottenheft Charelle, Groen Eric L, van Erp Jan B F
TNO, Human Performance, Kampweg 55, Soesterberg, 3679DE, The Netherlands.
Human Media Interaction, Computer Science, University of Twente, Twente, The Netherlands.
BMC Psychol. 2025 Jul 9;13(1):755. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03006-2.
Theoretical models on cognitive performance predict that performance breaks down at higher task load levels, because of limiting cognitive resources. Experimental validation of these models is scarce, and they often don't accommodate effects of invested effort and/or stressors. We experimentally measured a performance-curve as a function of increasing task load using a Tetris game. In addition, we investigated if performance breakdown occurs at different task load levels in the presence of a stressor. We hypothesized that an external stressor would shift the performance-curve to the left (i.e. lower task load levels) while maintaining the same form.
Twenty-one participants completed one training day and two test days (data collection: 2023). During training, an individual break-off level on the Tetris game was determined with a staircase method. Subsequently, on the two test days participants played nine predetermined task load levels on and around their break-off level. On one test day they were exposed to heat load, and on the other test day to room temperatures. Task load levels and test room temperature were counterbalanced.
The results show that a sigmoid model is successful in fitting the performance decline pattern at high task load levels. Heat load did not seem to affect the parameters of the sigmoid curves.
This study provides experimental evidence for a performance-curve as a function of increasing task load, resembling the right side of the classic inverted U-curve. Contrary to our expectation, we did not find evidence for a stressor-induced shift of the individual performance-curve, presumably because the increase in body core temperature (T) was insufficient to affect cognitive performance. Tetris seems a suitable tool to reproduce the performance-curve, and to perform research into factors that may affect the relation between mental effort and performance.
关于认知表现的理论模型预测，由于认知资源有限，在较高任务负荷水平下表现会下降。这些模型的实验验证很少，而且它们通常无法考虑投入努力和/或压力源的影响。我们使用俄罗斯方块游戏，通过实验测量了作为任务负荷增加函数的表现曲线。此外，我们研究了在存在压力源的情况下，不同任务负荷水平下是否会出现表现下降。我们假设外部压力源会将表现曲线向左移动（即较低的任务负荷水平），同时保持相同的形式。
21名参与者完成了1个训练日和2个测试日（数据收集时间：2023年）。在训练期间，使用阶梯法确定俄罗斯方块游戏中的个体中断水平。随后，在两个测试日，参与者在其中断水平及附近玩九个预先确定的任务负荷水平。在一个测试日，他们暴露于热负荷下，在另一个测试日暴露于室温下。任务负荷水平和测试房间温度进行了平衡处理。
结果表明，S形模型成功地拟合了高任务负荷水平下的表现下降模式。热负荷似乎并未影响S形曲线的参数。
本研究为作为任务负荷增加函数的表现曲线提供了实验证据，类似于经典倒U形曲线的右侧。与我们的预期相反，我们没有发现压力源导致个体表现曲线发生偏移的证据，可能是因为体核温度（T）的升高不足以影响认知表现。俄罗斯方块似乎是再现表现曲线以及研究可能影响心理努力与表现之间关系的因素的合适工具。
