1053 A Three-Minute Mobile Version of The Psychomotor Vigilance Task
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: The Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) is a timed test where participants respond to visual stimuli as quickly and accurately as possible. The standard PVT is computer-based and 10 minutes long. A 3-minute version has been demonstrated to be sensitive to sleep deprivation and improvements when regular sleep is restored. The 3-minute PVT was administered to SleepHealth Mobile App Study (SHMAS) participants via mobile device. SHMAS is an observational study available to US-based adults ≥ 18 years old via the Apple App Store. Participants were instructed to hold their mobile device with their dominant hand while tapping the screen with their thumb or index finger as soon as the target appeared. At the end of the task, average reaction time (RT) was displayed and daily RTs were viewable on the App dashboard. Lapses were defined as RTs > 500ms. Of 10,676 consented SHMAS participants, 5,473 completed at least one PVT session and 24,633 PVTs were started. Data were excluded from 129 participants who did not complete the task as intended (either completed < 50% of trials or had > 20% trials with false starts). Analyses were performed on 23,145 valid PVT trials (94%). 2,429 participants (44%) completed 1 session, 1096 participants (20%) completed 2, 1087 participants (20%) completed 3–5, and 861 participants (16%) completed ≥ 5 sessions. 417 participants completed ≥ 10 sessions. Mean RT was 481.1ms (SD=170ms; range: 183.6–5768.2ms) and mean lapses were 11.1 (SD=11.0; range: 0–45). Many SHMAS participants were willing to complete the PVT more than once, and a handful were “power users,” meaning that they completed it ten or more times. The vast majority completed the task as instructed. This demonstrates that a mobile PVT can potentially collect large amounts of useful and informative data that can provide insights into individuals’ sleep habits and daytime functioning. This research was funded by the American Sleep Apnea Association.
Source: SLEEP
Institution: VA San Diego Healthcare System
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2800103327