Date of Award
4-24-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy - School Psychology
Department
Human Services
First Advisor
Dr. Luis Aguerrevere
Second Advisor
Dr. Eric Jones
Third Advisor
Dr. Robyn Whitehead
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Exhaustion is known to impair cognitive functioning and performance, yet its effects on learning during video-based instruction among first responders and military service members remain underexplored. This study examined how mental, physical, and combined exhaustion independently influence learning outcomes and visual attention in a physically active sample drawn from military, public safety, and emergency service roles. Visual attention was measured utilizing eye tracking, focusing on fixation duration (FD) and fixation rate (FR). Participants completed instructional tasks under each exhaustion condition, allowing comparison of learning and gaze behavior across fatigue states. Results indicated that mental and physical exhaustion were associated with declines in learning performance, whereas combined exhaustion produced more variable outcomes across individuals. Eye-movement findings suggested that FD remained unchanged across conditions while FR showed condition specific alterations. This indicates that exhaustion influenced how attention was distributed rather than whether learners visually attended to the material. The results suggest that exhaustion can degrade learning in high-demand populations without producing uniform changes in overt attention, underscoring the need for exhaustion-informed instructional practices.
Keywords: mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion, combined exhaustion, emergency first responders, video-based learning, fixation duration, fixation rate, cognitive load
Repository Citation
Page, Kayla, "Investigating the Synergistic Effects of Mental and Physical Exhaustion on Learning and Attention In Emergency First Responders: An Eye-Tracking Study" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 685.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/685
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Neuroscience Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Exercise Physiology Commons, Systems and Integrative Physiology Commons
Tell us how this article helped you.
