ASSESSMENT OF THE RESISTANCE TO MENTAL FATIGUE USING THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

The resistance to mental fatigue can be appreciated through the simple reaction to stimuli and vigilance. Today, the use of computer technology makes the precision and accuracy of registrations to be assured. The movements associated with device manipulation (buttons, levers, pedals) are known as instrumental movements. Concerning reaction time, the duration of resting pauses and the intensity of the stimulus greatly influences this aspect. Vigilance is analyzed as a psycho-physiological state, it's main effect being the preparation for a perceptive, physical and/or intellectual activity. Vigilance is considered to be attention in expectation -> when one is waiting for a certain event or signal which requires a prompt reaction. This study was carried out on a number of 36 female subjects, divided as follows: 8 practitioners of aerobic gymnastics (students at NUPES), 8 practitioners of tennis (the subjects are ranked in the top 30 players in Romania) and 20 participants who do not conduct systematic physical activities (students at NUPES). Through the computerized RNE test, within PSISELTEVA tests, we assessed resistance to mental fatigue, the behavioral stability in stand-by and disruptive conditions. Using Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney (U) test we highlighted significant differences statistically (p < 0, 05) between the three samples of athletes, in terms of resistance to mental fatigue. The participants who practice tennis and aerobic gymnastics provide more accurate responses to the signal-stimuli under mental fatigue. Practicing sports systematically - tennis and aerobic gymnastics can be an effective way of developing certain skills and abilities such as: resistance to mental fatigue, vigilance, fast visual analysis capacity, prompt reactions at the visual signs.