Effect of aging on performance, muscle activation and perceived stress during mentally demanding computer tasks

Tine Alkjaer; Marianne Pilegaard; Merete Bakke; Bente R Jensen

Effect of aging on performance, muscle activation and perceived stress during mentally demanding computer tasks

Tine Alkjaer, Marianne Pilegaard, Merete Bakke, Bente R Jensen

Institut for Neurovidenskab

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

7 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Udgivelsesdato: 2005-Apr

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Vol/bind	31
Udgave nummer	2
Sider (fra-til)	152-9
Antal sider	7
ISSN	0355-3140
Status	Udgivet - 2005

Bibliografisk note

Keywords: Adaptation, Physiological; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biomechanics; Computers; Electromyography; Female; Human Engineering; Humans; Mental Processes; Muscle, Skeletal; Occupational Exposure; Perception; Questionnaires; Task Performance and Analysis; User-Computer Interface

Citationsformater

@article{6a7a0260543e11de87b8000ea68e967b,

title = "Effect of aging on performance, muscle activation and perceived stress during mentally demanding computer tasks",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of age on performance, muscle activation, and perceived stress during computer tasks with different levels of mental demand. METHODS: Fifteen young and thirteen elderly women performed two computer tasks [color word test and reference task] with different levels of mental demand but similar physical demands. The performance (clicking frequency, percentage of correct answers, and response time for correct answers) and electromyography from the forearm, shoulder, and neck muscles were recorded. Visual analogue scales were used to measure the participants' perception of the stress and difficulty related to the tasks. RESULTS: Performance decreased significantly in both groups during the color word test in comparison with performance on the reference task. However, the performance reduction was more pronounced in the elderly group than in the young group. Likewise, a higher level of self-reported stress was found for the elderly participants after the color word test. During the reference task higher electromyographic levels and reported difficulty were recorded for the elderly group than for the young group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that mental demands affect young and elderly women differently. Thus the mentally demanding computer task had a more pronounced effect on the elderly than on the young. In contrast to the results in the reference task, the same level of muscle activity for most muscles and the same level of self-reported difficulty was found in the two groups during the color word test. The elderly probably compensated for age-related changes by reducing their work speed markedly.",

author = "Tine Alkjaer and Marianne Pilegaard and Merete Bakke and Jensen, {Bente R}",

note = "Keywords: Adaptation, Physiological; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biomechanics; Computers; Electromyography; Female; Human Engineering; Humans; Mental Processes; Muscle, Skeletal; Occupational Exposure; Perception; Questionnaires; Task Performance and Analysis; User-Computer Interface",

year = "2005",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "152--9",

journal = "Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health",

issn = "0355-3140",

publisher = "Tyoterveyslaitos",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of aging on performance, muscle activation and perceived stress during mentally demanding computer tasks

AU - Alkjaer, Tine

AU - Pilegaard, Marianne

AU - Bakke, Merete

AU - Jensen, Bente R

N1 - Keywords: Adaptation, Physiological; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biomechanics; Computers; Electromyography; Female; Human Engineering; Humans; Mental Processes; Muscle, Skeletal; Occupational Exposure; Perception; Questionnaires; Task Performance and Analysis; User-Computer Interface

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of age on performance, muscle activation, and perceived stress during computer tasks with different levels of mental demand. METHODS: Fifteen young and thirteen elderly women performed two computer tasks [color word test and reference task] with different levels of mental demand but similar physical demands. The performance (clicking frequency, percentage of correct answers, and response time for correct answers) and electromyography from the forearm, shoulder, and neck muscles were recorded. Visual analogue scales were used to measure the participants' perception of the stress and difficulty related to the tasks. RESULTS: Performance decreased significantly in both groups during the color word test in comparison with performance on the reference task. However, the performance reduction was more pronounced in the elderly group than in the young group. Likewise, a higher level of self-reported stress was found for the elderly participants after the color word test. During the reference task higher electromyographic levels and reported difficulty were recorded for the elderly group than for the young group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that mental demands affect young and elderly women differently. Thus the mentally demanding computer task had a more pronounced effect on the elderly than on the young. In contrast to the results in the reference task, the same level of muscle activity for most muscles and the same level of self-reported difficulty was found in the two groups during the color word test. The elderly probably compensated for age-related changes by reducing their work speed markedly.

AB - OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of age on performance, muscle activation, and perceived stress during computer tasks with different levels of mental demand. METHODS: Fifteen young and thirteen elderly women performed two computer tasks [color word test and reference task] with different levels of mental demand but similar physical demands. The performance (clicking frequency, percentage of correct answers, and response time for correct answers) and electromyography from the forearm, shoulder, and neck muscles were recorded. Visual analogue scales were used to measure the participants' perception of the stress and difficulty related to the tasks. RESULTS: Performance decreased significantly in both groups during the color word test in comparison with performance on the reference task. However, the performance reduction was more pronounced in the elderly group than in the young group. Likewise, a higher level of self-reported stress was found for the elderly participants after the color word test. During the reference task higher electromyographic levels and reported difficulty were recorded for the elderly group than for the young group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that mental demands affect young and elderly women differently. Thus the mentally demanding computer task had a more pronounced effect on the elderly than on the young. In contrast to the results in the reference task, the same level of muscle activity for most muscles and the same level of self-reported difficulty was found in the two groups during the color word test. The elderly probably compensated for age-related changes by reducing their work speed markedly.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 15864909

VL - 31

SP - 152

EP - 159

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

SN - 0355-3140

IS - 2

ER -