RESUMO
Mental fatigue [MF] is a critical condition that can accompany cognitive dysfunction. Various surveys have been used to determine the MF state. However, differences in participants' perception levels' can decrease' survey specificity, which therefore should be supported using objective methods. This study describes a new and simple MF scale based on evaluating results from the Piper Fatigue Scale [PFS], together with the results for reaction times. In the study, 29 healthy, right-handed, male, medical student volunteers were included. Attending a theoretical class for 4 hours was used as the MF model. PFS was applied before and after the MF model to determine their levels of vulnerability to fatigue and perception of fatigue qualitatively. The finger tapping test [FTT] and simple and complex visual reaction time [VRT] tests were used to determine physical fatigue and MF quantitatively. There were no significant differences between pre- and post-fatigue PFS scores or FTT and simple VRT results [p=0.531, p=0.160, p=0.065, respectively]. However, the complex VRT was significantly longer after the MF model [p<0.05]. This study showed that borderline MF, which cannot be determined by the PFS alone, might be accomplished when tested with the complex VRT test that keeps participants in a vigilant state.
RESUMO
AIM: To examine a new performance test for detecting eye dominance by testing and re-testing with two different methods of the same subjects for comparing and discussing the reliabilities of these tests. ·METHODS: A total of 179 university students (mean age±SD was 19.37±1.62 years) were voluntarily participate in this survey consisting of 110 females (61.5%) and 69 males (38.5%). Eye dominances were determined by two different methods which were named McManus examined using a test-retest method. ·RESULTS: Without sex difference right eyes were found dominant for 128 (71.5%) participants by McManus test. The right eye dominance were found for 110 (61.5%) subjects. The results of these two methods were related significantly by Fisher Exact test (P ＜ 0.01), with an agreement scores (κ=0.256, P＜ 0.001). In females the right eye dominance were found for 74 (67.3%) and left eye were found for 36 (32.7%) by McManus test. When the right eye dominance was found as 62 (56.4%); and the left eye dominance was found for 48 (43.6%) females were related significantly by Fisher Exact test (P＜ 0.05), with a weak agreement scores (κ=0.239, P ＜ 0.01). In males the right/left eye dominance were found respectively 54 (78.3%), 15(21.7%) in McManus test as it was found as 48 (69.6%), 21 (30.4%) for the same test and Fisher exact test were used for the analysis of categorical data. The agreement between different methods was analyzed with Kappa statistics. Comparison of proportions was made by two proportions z test. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. ·CONCLUSION: Without gender difference and also in both females and males marked right eye dominance was observed. The right eye dominance was considering functional laterality may due to the dominance of left hemisphere instead of right hemisphere. It is an important topic future research in laterality, and it may well become an important model system for future research.