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.

Lapses can be measured using these tests:

Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT): A response slower than 500ms is considered a lapse.

PVT-B Test: A response slower than 355ms is a lapse.

Mackworth Clock: A response slower than 650ms is a lapse.