The Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) and PVT-B both measure sustained attention and reaction time, but they differ in key aspects:
Duration:
PVT: Available in 5-minute or 10-minute versions.
PVT-B: A shorter 3-minute test.
Lapse Threshold:
PVT: Responses slower than 500ms are considered lapses.
PVT-B: A stricter threshold—responses slower than 355ms are lapses.
Interstimulus Interval (ISI) – Delay Between Stimuli:
PVT: Longer ISI, meaning more time between reaction prompts.
PVT-B: Shorter ISI, leading to a faster-paced test.
PVT-B is designed for quicker assessments with a higher cognitive load due to reduced response time, while the full PVT provides a more comprehensive evaluation of vigilance over a longer period.
What Is a Lapse?
Lapses are key indicators of mental fatigue in athletes. They represent moments when an athlete responds much slower than usual, often due to a lack of focus. When mental fatigue sets in, athletes tend to have slower reaction times, more variation in their responses, and a higher number of lapses. Therefore, tracking lapses helps measure mental fatigue. If the number of lapses increases, it’s a warning to pay closer attention to the athlete’s data.