A study published in Scientific Reports found that running and other complex movements distort time perception primarily due to cognitive effort involved in controlling movement, rather than physical exertion, as evidenced by similar time overestimations during running, backward walking, and dual tasks regardless of heart rate differences.
A study using fMRI reveals that the right insula and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex become more active during mental fatigue, influencing decisions to continue or quit effortful tasks, with external incentives like money encouraging continued effort. These findings could inform treatments for fatigue-related conditions such as depression and PTSD.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have discovered a simple technique to detect lies by asking suspects to carry out an additional task while being questioned. Previous studies have shown that lying requires more cognitive effort than telling the truth, and by giving individuals a secondary task, their ability to fabricate stories is compromised, making their lies less polished and easier to identify. The study found that liars' stories were perceived as less plausible and less clear than truth tellers' stories, particularly when the liars were given a secondary task and told it was important. The introduction of secondary tasks during interviews could facilitate lie detection, but they need to be introduced carefully to ensure they are not neglected by the liars.