Both the PVT-B and PFTT are powerful tools designed to monitor mental fatigue, but their applications differ based on specific training objectives.
PVT-B/PVT (Psychomotor Vigilance Task -Brief)
The PVT-B/PVT is most effectively used when the primary goal is to monitor mental fatigue. This test is specifically designed to assess how mental fatigue affects cognitive alertness and reaction times. By administering the PVT-B/PVT, you can gain detailed insights into an athlete's mental fatigue levels and overall cognitive readiness, making it an essential tool for evaluating how well an athlete can maintain focus and respond to stimuli under conditions of mental strain.
When to Use the PVT-B/PVT
Monitor Mental Fatigue: Use the PVT-B/PVT to assess mental fatigue after cognitive training sessions.
Readiness: Implement this test to evaluate an athlete's mental readiness and detect signs of mental fatigue.
Example of PVT in Action
In the video example below, you can see how challenging the training session was.
📍 At the Start (21:19) – Fresh & Focused
Reaction Time: 356ms (quick responses).
Accuracy: 100% (perfect focus).
Variation: 13% (consistent performance).
Lapses: 1 (minimal attention errors).
📍 At the End (22:30) – Mentally Fatigued
Reaction Time: 372ms (slower responses).
Accuracy: 100% (still perfect, but slowing down).
Variation: 20% (less consistent reactions).
Lapses: 4 (more frequent attention errors).
By monitoring PVT-B/PVT data, you can see that the session was challenging enough to induce mental fatigue. Ideally, you’d want to see PVT-B/PVT return to baseline levels by the next session. If pre-session values rise over the week, this may indicate the athlete needs more recovery time.
Keeping an eye on mental fatigue levels with the PVT-B/PVT is a quick and effective test. We recommend tracking PVT-B/PVT over at least a month to establish a normal baseline for your athletes and adjust training loads accordingly.
PVT-B vs PVT
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.
Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT)
The psychomotor vigilance test assesses sustained attention and is currently the gold standard in fatigue detection.