The psychomotor vigilance test: a comparison of different test durations in elite athletes. Issue 18 (17th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Maddison J.; Dunican, Ian C.; Murray, Kevin; Peeling, Peter; Dawson, Brian; Halson, Shona; Miller, Joanna; Eastwood, Peter R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 36:Issue 18(2018)
• Page Start: 2033
• Page End: 2037
• Publication Date: 2018-09-17
• Subjects: Cognitive performance -- reaction time -- sport -- alertness; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1433443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The 10-min Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT-10) is regarded as the gold-standard for assessing vigilant attention following sleep loss; however, other studies have investigated whether shorter versions of the test elicit similar results to the PVT-10. The present study compared the PVT-10 with 3-min (PVT-3) and 5-min (PVT-5) versions of the test in elite female basketball players. Athletes performed all three tests in the morning and evening for seven consecutive days. Response speed (mean reciprocal reaction time; mean 1/RT), number of errors and number of lapses were determined for each test and time point. The PVT-3 elicited significantly faster response speeds than the other two tests (p < 0.01), while the PVT-5 and PVT-10 were not different. The PVT-10 resulted in more lapses than the PVT-5, followed by the PVT-3, with all tests being significantly different to each other (p < 0.01). In conclusion, while the PVT-5 and PVT-10 were generally similar for response speed, the PVT-3 did not produce results comparable with the PVT-10 for response speed, lapses or errors, and should therefore not be used interchangeably. Further research is required to determine whether the shorter tests are a suitable replacement for the PVT-10 in professional basketball players.