Key result
Unrecoverable and recoverable states of fatigue fluctuate on different timescales to significantly reduce the willingness to exert effort for reward (UF × effort interaction Z = -5.17, p < 0.001), with distinct frontal sub-regions covarying with these states.
Why the study?
Studies examining effort-based decisions typically assume that the willingness to work is static, rather than accounting for fatigue fluctuating on a moment-to-moment basis.
Effect estimate: Z = -5.17 (95% CI -5.06, -3.39)
p-value: p=<0.001
This study provides a computational and neural framework demonstrating that distinct frontal brain regions track recoverable and unrecoverable states of fatigue, which dynamically reduce the willingness to exert effort for rewards.
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Delineates neural fatigue subtypes in effort decisions; leaves open clinical translation to motivational disorders.
Müller et al. (2021) studied Healthy (n=39). Effort-based decision-making task vs. Rest (no effort, low reward) was evaluated on Willingness to exert effort for reward (choice to work vs rest) (Z = -5.17, 95% CI -5.06, -3.39, p=<0.001). Unrecoverable and recoverable states of fatigue fluctuate on different timescales to significantly reduce the willingness to exert effort for reward (UF × effort interaction Z = -5.17, p < 0.001), with distinct frontal sub-regions covarying with these states.
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