A influência da fadiga mental sobre o uso de celular na aprendizagem motora sob a ótica do teste de retenção em adolescentes de 12 a 14 anos

Abstract

This research investigates the relationship between mental fatigue and motor learning, specifically identifying and analyzing the impact of mental fatigue induced by cell phone use on a motor skill in adolescents aged 12 to 14. Based on this premise, the central research problem is: Does mental fatigue induced by cell phone use interfere with retention and motor learning performance in adolescents aged 12 to 14? The importance of this topic also lies in the scarcity of studies on the effects of mental fatigue induced by cell phone use on motor learning. Therefore, by investigating the effects of cell phone-induced mental fatigue on motor learning, it will be possible to stimulate the development of interventions that encourage healthier and more responsible use of digital technologies by adolescents, fostering a more conscious and active stance toward technological advancement. The general objective of this research is to analyze the effect of mental fatigue from cell phone use on the retention test associated with motor learning of a dart-throwing skill. Methodologically, this was an experimental, descriptive, and longitudinal study. It involved 108 healthy individuals of both sexes, aged between 12 and 14 years. Data collection occurred over two days, with participants stratified into two groups: the Fatigue Group (FG), who performed a social media task for approximately 30 minutes and then practiced the dart-throwing task; and the Control Group (CG), who watched engaging but emotionally neutral content (Kung Fu Panda cartoon) for 30 minutes, mimicking the time spent accessing social media via a smartphone, and also subsequently practiced the dart-throwing task. Participants performed an underhand dart-throwing activity, executing a postero-anterior arm movement. To evaluate the subjective perception of mental fatigue, the VAS (Visual Analog Scale) was used, subjectively assessing participants' current level of mental fatigue. Regarding the results, in terms of mean error outcome, both groups showed similar performance in the pre-test. In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed for the time factor, indicating improved motor performance throughout practice and consolidation of motor memory in the 24-hour retention test. However, no statistical significance was found between the groups regarding learning. Therefore, under the specific conditions of this study, mental fatigue resulting from cell phone use did not interfere with the retention of an underhand dart-throwing motor skill in adolescents aged 12 to 14, resulting in homogeneous responses between the groups.