Under extreme fatigue, mental multiplication efficiency ends at a definite, relatively abruptly appearing point rather than tailing off by degrees¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r1 · q1
Currency · newest study 1914 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q1 i? The outcome suggests strongly that there exists a definite and relatively abruptly appearing point beyond which mental work becomes impossible. → W. S. Painter 1914

Evidence¶

W. S. Painter 1914¶

W. S. Painter. (1914). Efficiency in Mental Multiplication Under Extreme Fatigue. The Journal of Educational Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/edu/

q1 · i? · causal · r1

Single-subject experiment (the author as experimenter) working continuously at mental multiplication from 11:00 P.M. until after 3:07 A.M. The author's conclusion states the outcome "suggests strongly that there- exists a definite and relatively abruptly appearing point" limiting mental work.

"However, the outcome suggests strongly that there- exists a definite and relatively abruptly appearing point beyond which mental work becomes impossible."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• During the final fatigue test, time per problem rose gradually, then markedly, with no obvious correlation between time and accuracy — related
• When four-place by four-place mental multiplication came to a standstill under extreme fatigue, ability to multiply any numbers was also lost — related
• Subjective fatigue states under prolonged mental work included failure to hold and banish partial products, lethargy, and labored breathing — related
• Fifteen days of one-hour daily practice produced fairly steady four-place by four-place mental multiplication — related
• Efficiency in the work curve is conditioned by factors beyond fatigue proper: practice, adaptation, preparedness, warming up, spurts, voluntary effort, ennui, and diurnal rhythms (Offner) — related