The effect of wearing face masks on cognitive functioning

INTERVENTION: Participants will come into the laboratory in the Department of Psychology for two visits (each 60 min) separated by 1 week. Participants will be asked to wear a PPE mask (Safe Plus anti‐fog, earloop type, manufactured by BH medical products Co., Ltd.) for one of the visits for at least 8 hours during the day until completion of cognitive tests. Prior to their first visit, they will be randomly assigned a session order. Participants will perform different computer‐based cognitive tests including (Pro keypress, Anti keypress, Pro/Anti keypress, Simon task, Forward spatial span, Backward spatial span, Two‐back task and Flanker task) and visual analogue mood scale (VAMS). CONDITION: Cognitive function; ; Cognitive function Mental Health ‐ Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour Neurological ‐ Studies of the normal brain and nervous system PRIMARY OUTCOME: For Anti, Simon and Flanker tasks, median Reaction Times (RTs) (for; correct responses only) were used as a measure of inhibitory control.; ; References:; White, N., Forsyth, B., Lee, A., & Machado, L. (2018). Repeated computerized cognitive testing: performance shifts and test‐retest reliability in healthy young adults. Psychological Assessment, 30(4),; 539–549. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000503.; ; White, N., Flannery, L., McClintock, A., & Machado, L. (2019).; Repeated computerized cognitive testing: performance shifts and; test‐retest reliability in healthy older adults. Journal of Clinical; and Experimental Neuropsychology, 41(2), 179–191. https://doi.; org/10.1080/13803395.2018.1526888[Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing and control sessions), one week apart.] For the Forward and Backward Spatial and Digit; tasks, maximum spans (i.e., the longest sequence length at which at least one sequence was recalled correctly), and total scores (i.e., the product of the maximum span and the total number of sequences recalled correctly were measured variables.; ; Reference; Kessels, R. P., van Zandvoort, M. J., Postma, A., Kappelle, L. J., & de; Haan, E. H. (2000). The Corsi block‐tapping task: standardization; and normative data. Applied Neuropsychology, 7(4), 252–258.; https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324826AN0704_8.; [Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing and control sessions) one week apart.] Switching ability (assessed via Pro/Anti task). Computerized reaction times (ms) are used as outcomes. ; ; [Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing, and control) each one week apart.] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Mood state (calm) will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS). ; ; The response is given on a 0 (Not at all) to 100 (Extremely) visual analogue scale. ; ; Reference ; Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1‐8. doi:10.1017/S1041610218000996[Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing, and control), each one week apart.] Mood state (energetic) will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS). ; The response is given on a 0 (Not at all) to 100 (Extremely) visual analogue scale. ; ; Reference ; ; The response is given on a 0 (Not at all) to 100 (Extremely) visual analogue scale. ; ; Reference ; ; The response is given on a 0 (Not at all) to 100 (Extremely) visual analogue scale. ; ; Reference ; ; The response is given on a 0 (Not at all) to 100 (Extremely) visual analogue scale. ; ; Reference ; ; The response is given on a 0 (Not at all) to 100 (Extremely) visual analogue scale. ; ; Reference INCLUSION CRITERIA: • Aged 18‐35 years . • Normal or corrected‐to‐normal vision. ; Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1‐8. doi:10.1017/S1041610218000996[Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing, and control ), each one week apart.] Mood state (happy) will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS). ; Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1‐8. doi:10.1017/S1041610218000996[Assessed at two time points (i..e, mask wearing, and control), each one week apart.] Mood state (sad) will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS). ; Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1‐8. doi:10.1017/S1041610218000996[Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing, and control) each one week apart] Mood state (tense) will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS). ; Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1‐8. doi:10.1017/S1041610218000996[Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing, and control), each one week apart.] Mood state (tired) will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS). ; Machado, L., Thompson, L. M., & Brett, C. H. (2018). Visual analogue mood scale scores in healthy young versus older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1‐8. doi:10.1017/S1041610218000996[Assessed at two time points (i.e., mask wearing, and control), each one week apart.] • Comfortable wearing a face mask for at least 8 hours.