Influence of gender on psychomotor vigilance task performance by adolescents
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
41(8): 734-738, Aug. 2008. graf, tab
Artículo
en Inglés
| LILACS
| ID: lil-491928
ABSTRACT
During adolescence, the sleep phase delay associated with early school times increases daytime sleepiness and reduces psychomotor performance. Some studies have shown an effect of gender on psychomotor performance in adults and children. Males present faster reaction times (RT) compared with females. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of gender on Palm psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance in adolescents. Thirty-four adolescents (19 girls, 13 to 16 years old) attending morning school classes of a public school in Curitiba, PR, Brazil, participated in the study. Sleep patterns were measured using actigraphy and sleepiness data were accessed with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). KSS and PVT measurements were collected at two times in the morning (800 and 1100 h). The data were compared using one-way ANOVA, considering gender as a factor. ANOVA indicated that gender did not affect sleep patterns and subjective somnolence; however, a statistically significant effect of gender was detected for PVT performance. Boys presented faster RT (RT-PVT1 345.51 ms, F = 6.08, P < 0.05; RT-PVT2 343.30 ms, F = 6.35, P < 0.05) and fewer lapses (lapses-PVT1 8.71, F = 4.45, P < 0.05; lapses-PVT2 7.82, F = 7.06, P < 0.05) compared with girls (RT-PVT1 402.96; RT-PVT2 415.70; lapses-PVT1 16.33; lapses-PVT2 17.80). These results showed that this effect of gender, already reported in adults and children, is also observed in adolescents. The influence of gender should be taken into account in studies that use Palm PVT to evaluate psychomotor performance in this age range.
Texto completo:
Disponible
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Asunto principal:
Nivel de Alerta
/
Desempeño Psicomotor
/
Sueño
/
Factores Sexuales
Límite:
Adolescente
/
Femenino
/
Humanos
/
Masculino
Idioma:
Inglés
Revista:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Asunto de la revista:
Biologia
/
Medicina
Año:
2008
Tipo del documento:
Artículo
/
Congreso y conferencia
País de afiliación:
Brasil
Institución/País de afiliación:
Laboratório de Cronobiologia Humana/BR
Similares
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS