Computational mechanisms underlying the dynamics of physical and cognitive fatigue

Julian Matthews, M. Andrea Pisauro, Mindaugas Jurgelis, Tanja Müller, Eliana Vassena, Trevor T.J. Chong*, Matthew A.J. Apps*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The willingness to exert effort for reward is essential but comes at the cost of fatigue. Theories suggest fatigue increases after both physical and cognitive exertion, subsequently reducing the motivation to exert effort. Yet a mechanistic understanding of how this happens on a moment-to-moment basis, and whether mechanisms are common to both mental and physical effort, is lacking. In two studies, participants reported momentary (trial-by-trial) ratings of fatigue during an effort-based decision-making task requiring either physical (grip-force) or cognitive (mental arithmetic) effort. Using a novel computational model, we show that fatigue fluctuates from trial-to-trial as a function of exerted effort and predicts subsequent choices. This mechanism was shared across the domains. Selective to the cognitive domain, committing errors also induced momentary increases in feelings of fatigue. These findings provide insight into the computations underlying the influence of effortful exertion on fatigue and motivation, in both physical and cognitive domains.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105603
JournalCognition
Volume240
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Keywords

  • Cognitive effort
  • Decision-making
  • Fatigue
  • Motivation
  • Physical effort

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