Citation

Bills AG. J. Exp. Psychol. 1937; 20(5): 437-452.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1937, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0058001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

"(1) When the oxygen content of the inspired air is reduced by increasing the ratio of nitrogen to O 2, there is produced an increase in the length and frequency of blocks in mental work (color naming) which is proportional to the amount of reduction of oxygen. (2) An hour's continuous mental work (color naming) in normal air produces an increase in the length and frequency of blocks which is comparable to that produced by reducing the oxygen content of the air to 10.5 percent. (3) No marked change is produced in the modal response of subjects either by anoxemia or an hour of continuous mental work. (4) The rate of development of fatigue, as indicated by the rate of increase in blocking, is much greater under the anoxemia conditions than under normal air." These conclusions give some corroborative evidence for the theory that the physiological basis of mental fatigue is, in part at least, a reduction of the available oxygen supply to the functioning mechanisms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)