Attention-related muscle activity in different body regions during VDU work with minimal physical activity
- 1 March 1996
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Ergonomics
- Vol. 39 (4), 661-676
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139608964488
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to characterize regional variation in task-irrelevant muscle activity. Surface EMG was recorded at 20 different muscle sites during a complex choice-reaction task. Up to ten muscle sites were recorded in parallel and always including the upper trapezius muscles. The experimental setting was designed to minimize the physical activity while performing a VDU-based task demanding continuing attention. Consequently, the label ‘attention-related muscle activity’ has been adopted. The presence of this activity varied between subjects and between the different muscle sites. It tended to decrease in a caudal direction and to be low in the muscles of the extremities, with the exception of the extensor muscles of the hand and foot. Attention-related activity was prevalent in the frontalis and upper trapezius muscles. This result is discussed with respect to a potentially harmful health effect of task-irrelevant muscle activity.Keywords
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