The effects of mental fatigue on planning and preparation
for future actions were examined, using a task switching
paradigm. Fatigue was induced by “time on task,”
with subjects performing a switch task continuously for
2 hr. Subjects had to alternate between tasks on every
second trial, so that a new task set was required on every
second trial. Manipulations of response–stimulus
intervals (RSIs) were used to examine whether subjects
prepared themselves for the task change. Behavioral measurements,
event-related potentials (ERPs), and mood questionnaires
were used to assess the effects of mental fatigue. Reaction
times (RTs) were faster on trials in which no change in
task set was required in comparison with switch trials,
requiring a new task set. Long RSIs were used efficiently
to prepare for the processing of subsequent stimuli. With
increasing mental fatigue, preparation processes seemed
to become less adequate and the number of errors increased.
A clear poststimulus parietal negativity was observed on
repetition trials, which reduced with time on task. This
attention-related component was less pronounced in switch
trials; instead, ERPs elicited in switch trials showed
a clear frontal negativity. This negativity was also diminished
by time on task. ERP differences between repetition and
switch trials became smaller with increasing time on task.