Mental Workload Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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- Psychology, Applied Psychology, Psychometrics, Comparative Study
- by Craig McDonald
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- Psychophysiology, Thinking, Humans, Female

Industrial accidents are explained often by saying that people are fatigued. Traditionally, Theories of resources have been used to explain this relation between fatigue and accidents. Those theories predict that when there is a lack on mental resources people are more prone to err. They also predict that mental fatigue depends on how long a person has been performing a task. Therefore, they predict that more time performing a task would let to more accidents. However, data from industry contradicts this hypothesis. When people are supposed to be more fatigued (i.e. at the end of the week) they have fewer accidents. This paper present some data from one ongoing research project aim to explain these results about industry accidents. Our results suggest that we should review the traditional theories of resources and propose new one that include some compensatory mechanism that supply extra resources when is needed [1].

- by José Cañas
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- Fatigue, Mental Workload
- by laura pickup
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- Ergonomics, Occupational Health, Humans, Applied Ergonomics

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the operators' mental workload (MW) of cement, city traffic control and power plant control centers using subjective and objective measures during system vital parameters monitoring. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to February 2015 at the cement, city traffic control and power plant control centers. Electrocardiography and electroencephalography data were recorded from forty males during performing their daily working in resting, low mental workload (LMW), high mental workload (HMW) and recovery conditions (each block 5 minutes). The NASA-Task Load Index (TLX) was used to evaluate the subjective workload of the operators. Results: The results showed that increasing MW had a significant effect on the operators subjective responses in two conditions ([1,53] = 216.303, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.803). Also,the Task-MW interaction effect on operators subjective responses was significant (F [3, 53] = 12.628, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.417). Analysis of repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that increasing mental demands had a significant effect on heart rate, low frequency/high frequency ratio, theta and alpha band activity. Conclusion: The results suggested that when operators' mental demands especially in traffic control and power plant tasks increased, their mental fatigue and stress level increased and their mental health deteriorated. Therefore, it may be necessary to implement an ergonomic program or administrative control to manage mental probably health in these control centers. Furthermore, by evaluating MW, the control center director can organize the human resources for each MW condition to sustain the appropriate performance as well as improve system functions.

- by Health Promotion Perspectives
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- Ergonomics, EEG, Ecg, Mental Workload

Sixteen participants performed a military operations simulation directing loading of helicopters to weight capacity within an allotted timeframe and subject to a set of decision rules. The participants stood, walked or jogged on a treadmill while performing the simulated cognitive task. Task performance was measured in terms of helicopter loading rate and accuracy. Situation awareness (SA) was measured using a simulation freeze technique and SA queries. Subjective workload was measured using the NASA-TLX. Results indicated a general trend of decreasing SA with increasing physical workload for perceptual knowledge, comprehension and overall SA. Results also revealed higher subjective workload during jogging than during the walking and standing conditions. However, the physical workload manipulations did not appear to affect cognitive task performance. This study has practical implications for defining physical and cognitive workloads in specific dynamic, complex work environments to support operator SA and performance.

- by Carlene Mohammed
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- Information Systems, Psychology, Situation awareness, Work Environment
- by laura pickup
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- Ergonomics, Psychometrics, Humans, Applied Ergonomics
- by Mark Young
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- Information Systems, Psychology, Human Factors, Conceptual Framework
- by Karel Brookhuis
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- Psychology, Cognition, Attention, Electroencephalography

The steel industry has one of the highest rates
of fatal and injuries every year. The work environment in
the industry is fundamentally changing, bringing new
challenges to the health and safety of employees. Work
stress is regarded as an important topic in the field of work
health because of its negative impacts on workers’ health
and safety. It results from Long-term exposure to workplace
psychosocial risks, characteristics of the work environment,
work design, and organizational management which
potentially cause psychological and social damages. These
changes lead to new psychosocial risks. Such risks, which
relate to the concept of allocation, organization and
management of work, as well as their economic and social
context, result in increased stress levels, which can lead to
serious deterioration of mental and physical health,
increased injury and reduced effectiveness. As a high
hazardous industry, there is a need to investigate
psychosocial factors that affect the occurrence of these
accidents in order to helping us to be able to protect
workers. The study has also developed specific actions to
deal with, reduce the incidence and negative impact of
psychosocial constraints on both workers and the company.
The comprehensive review of the steel making industry has
been done and appropriate remedial measures have been
suggested as per “The EU Framework Directive on health
and safety at work (89/391/EEC)”, “PAS 1010-2011,
Guidance on the management of psychosocial risks in the
workplace”.

- by IJRE ORG
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- Work-Related Stress, Risk assessment, Psychosocial Risks, Mental Workload
- by Francisco López Barón
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- Mobbing, Iron, Manufacturing Industry, Cross Section
- by Gianluca Borghini
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- Neuroscience, Mental Workload
- by Antonio Maldonado and +1
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- Psychology, Eye tracking, Eye Movement, Mental Workload
- by Nina Schaap
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- Materials Engineering, Cellulose, Mental Workload
- by Gladys Rolo-González
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- Safety Culture, Health and Safety, Mental Workload, Papeles Del Artista
- by Ravindra S Goonetilleke
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- Psychology, Mathematics, Ergonomics, Psychometrics
- by Robert P Goldman
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- Decision Making, Situation awareness, Work Environment, Research and Development
- by Evelyn-rose Saus and +1
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- Heart rate variability, Humans, Computer Simulation, Applied Ergonomics
- by Tara Behrend
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- Information Systems, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Multimedia

To improve the readability of hyperdocuments, it is not sufficient to concentrate on navigation without supporting comprehension. Focusing on this widely neglected issue in hypertext research, interface de - sign has to reduce the mental effort for comprehension which depends on the coherence and the mental workload required from the reader for concurrent activities such as navigation and orientation. Facili-

- by Joerg Haake
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- Close relationships, User Interface Design, Design Rationale, Mental Workload
- by Valerie Sims
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- Working Memory, Reading Comprehension, Industrial Ergonomics, Industrial
- by David Kaber
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- Information Systems, Psychology, Situation awareness, Dynamic control

Conducting research within virtual environments poses unique challenges when trying to measure mental effort and visually induced motion sickness. Determining how much mental effort an individual is exerting at any given point has historically been reserved for a human factors expert review and self-report such as NASA-TLX. When using an objective measure of mental effort via electrodermal activity (EDA), the subjective piece of this measure no longer carries the entire burden of proof. This research explores whether electrodermal activity (EDA) can be used as a successful indicator of mental effort for a single user in a controlled environment while performing scenario-based tasks. Additionally, EDA will be explored as a potential predictive measure of visually induced motion sickness within virtual environments. Two studies were conducted to contribute to this research. The first study observed 28 participants in a combine vehicle simulator and showed there is a decrease in EDA levels over time as familiarity with the system increases. The second study included 57 participants who navigated a visually disruptive virtual maze using a 3D head-mounted display. This study demonstrated a positive correlation between EDA and reported sickness in the first half of the study and a positive correlation between EDA and mental effort in the second half of the study. This research supports that EDA can be used as a measure of mental effort and visually induced motion sickness for a single user performing scenario-based tasks.

- by Chase Meusel
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- Cognitive Load Theory, Cognitive Load, Galvanic Skin Response, Simulator Sickness
- by Aline Chevalier
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- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science, Software

An improved understanding of how the brain allocates mental resources as a function of task difficulty is critical for enhancing human performance. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a field-deployable optical brain monitoring technology that provides a direct measure of cerebral blood flow in response to cognitive activity. We found that fNIRS was sensitive to variations in task difficulty in both real-life (flight simulator) and laboratory settings (tests measuring executive functions), showing increased concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and decreased concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) in the prefrontal cortex as the tasks became more complex. Intensity of prefrontal activation (HbO2 concentration) was not clearly correlated to task performance. Rather, activation intensity shed insight on the level of mental effort, i.e., how hard an individual was working to accomplish a task. When combined with performance, fNIRS provided an estimate of the participants' neural efficiency, and this efficiency was consistent across levels of difficulty of the same task. Overall, our data support the suitability of fNIRS to assess the mental effort related to human operations and represents a promising tool for the measurement of neural efficiency in other contexts such as training programs or the clinical setting. Understanding the way the brain allocates mental resources according to the task demand is critically important for complex and high risk operational settings (e.g. piloting an aircraft, controlling air traffic, supervising a nuclear plant, etc.). The increase in mental workload in the face of a challenging task can lead to performance breakdown 1, 2 with potentially fatal consequences. Measuring mental workload is complex as it represents the interplay between the demands of the environment (input load), human characteristics (capacities), and task performance (output). Thus, taking into account solely the task characteristics does now allow inferring the level of mental workload in an individual. There are many classical neuroimaging methods that allow measuring the neural substrates of mental workload in a continuous and unobtrusive way, such as electroencepha-lography (EEG) 3 , functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) 4 , and positron emission tomography (PET) 5. While these techniques have enabled an unprecedented window into the functioning of the human brain, they are not suited for use in ecological contexts. Indeed, EEG measures are subject to numerous artefacts due to head and/or body movements, and PET and fMRI require the subjects to lie supine and immobile during data acquisition. Therefore, there is a need for sensitive, continuous and robust measurements that are able to discriminate between various mental effort levels. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a relatively new and promising imaging technique that meets such measurement requirements, and the important advantage of being portable and field-deployable. This technique measures the oxygenated (HbO2) and deoxygenated (HHb) hemoglobin in the blood supply of the brain, and has been shown to discriminate between various mental effort levels (e.g. Ayaz et al. 6). In contrast to the more classical neuroimaging techniques, fNIRS allows in-vivo imaging in ecological conditions with natural freedom of movement and in complex environments such as high-fidelity flight simulators.

- by Mickael Causse and +1
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- Fnirs, Mental Workload, Neural Efficiency
- by Martin Lavalliere
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- Psychology, Psychometrics, Cognition, Emergency Response

Paper-and-pencil learning and testing are gradually shifting to computerized environments. Cognitive and metacognitive researchers find screen inferiority compared to paper in effort regulation, test performance, and extent of overconfidence, in some cases, with unknown differentiating factors. Notably, these studies used reading comprehension tasks involving lengthy texts, which confound technology-related and cognitive factors. We hypothesized that the medium provides a contextual cue which leads to shallower processing on screen regardless of text length, particularly when task characteristics hint that shallow processing is legitimate. To test this hypothesis, we used briefly phrased yet challenging problems for solving on screen or on paper. In Experiment 1, the time frame for solving the problems was manipulated. As with lengthy texts, only time pressure resulted in screen inferiority. In Experiment 2, under a loose time frame, the same problems were now framed as a preliminary task performed before a main problem-solving task. Only the initial task, with reduced perceived importance, revealed screen inferiority similarly to time pressure. In Experiment 3, we replicated Experiment 1’s time frame manipulation, using a problem solving task which involved reading only three isolated words. Screen inferiority in overconfidence was found again only under time pressure. The results suggest that metacognitive processes are sensitive to contextual cues that hint at the expected depth of processing, regardless of the reading burden involved.

- by Neville Stanton
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- Information Systems, Psychology, Working Memory, Mental Workload
- by Christian Collet
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- Air traffic control, Real Time, Rating Scale, Mental Workload
- by Noa Segall and +1
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- Computers in Education, User satisfaction, Student Learning, Real Time

Abstract. This paper investigates how one operator can control a multi-robot system for tactical reconnaissance using partly autonomous UGVs. Instead of controlling individual UGVs, the operator uses supervisory control to allocate partly... more

Dynamic positioning (DP) systems are complex systems that challenges the operator’s mind during complex offshore DP operations. It is both mentally demanding and the operator has to maintain constant situation awareness to be able to react in time to safety-critical situations. The research design that will be presented in this work-in-progress paper, aims at investigating the variations of high and low mental workload during dynamic positioning operations in the maritime domain using advanced eye- tracking equipment. This type of equipment is utilized to assess the operator’s focal areas on the vessel’s bridge during the operation and correlate the eye-tracking results with more traditional metrics measuring mental workload, such as heart rate monitoring and NASA-TLX. The experiment has been divided into four different sub-experiments, where the last iteration will compare workload assessments between a current and a new graphical user interface of a DP system. The results from these experiments will give valuable insight in DP operations and provide possibilities of tailoring placement of information from the DP system so that safety can be improved by supporting the operator during operation.

- by Eva Hornecker
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- Usability, Eye tracking, Maritime, Dynamic Positioning System

The ability to continuously and unobtrusively monitor levels of task engagement and mental workload in an operational environment could be useful in identifying more accurate and efficient methods for humans to interact with technology. This information could also be used to optimize the design of safer, more efficient work environments that increase motivation and productivity. The present study explored the feasibility of monitoring electroencephalo-graphic (EEG) indices of engagement and workload acquired unobtrusively and quantified during performance of cognitive tests. EEG was acquired from 80 healthy participants with a wireless sensor headset (F3-F4,C3-C4,Cz-POz,F3-Cz,Fz-C3,Fz-POz) during tasks including: multi-level forward/backward-digit-span, grid-recall, trails, mental-addition, 20-min 3-Choice Vigilance, and image-learning and memory tests. EEG metrics for engagement and workload were calculated for each 1 -s of EEG. Across participants, engagement but not workload decr...

- by Richard E Olmstead
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- Cognition, Attention, Electroencephalography, Learning
- by Vesna Novak
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- Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Virtual Environment, Skin conductance
- by Glenn Wilson
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- Psychology, Cognitive Science, Psychophysiology, Aviation

Introduction Little is known about feasibility and acceptability of return to work (RTW) interventions for mental health problems. RTW for mental health problems is more complicated than for musculoskeletal problems due to stigmatization at the workplace. A participatory workplace intervention was developed in which an employee and supervisor identify and prioritize obstacles and solutions for RTW guided by a RTW coordinator. This paper is a feasibility study of this innovative intervention for employees with distress. The aims of this study were to describe the reach and extent of implementation of the workplace intervention, the satisfaction and expectations of all stakeholders, and the intention to use the workplace intervention in the future. Methods Eligible for this study were employees who had been on sick leave from regular work for 2–8 weeks with distress. Data were collected from the employees, their supervisors, RTW coordinators, and occupational physicians by means of standardized matrices and questionnaires at baseline and 3 months follow-up. Reach, implementation, satisfaction, expectations, and maintenance regarding the workplace intervention were described. Results Of the 56 employees with distress eligible to receive the workplace intervention, 40 employees, their supervisors and RTW coordinators actually participated in the intervention. They identified 151 obstacles for RTW mostly related to job design, communication, mental workload and person-related stress factors. The 281 consensus-based solutions identified were mostly related to job design, communication and training. Of those solutions, 72% was realized at the evaluation with the employee and supervisor. Overall, employees, supervisors and occupational health professionals were satisfied with the workplace intervention and occupational health professionals rated it with a 7.1. Time-investment was the only barrier for implementation reported by the occupational health professionals. Conclusions The results of this study indicate a high feasibility for a broad implementation of a participatory workplace intervention for employees with distress and lost time, and their supervisors.

- by Berend Terluin
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- Mental Health, Occupational Health, Employment, Job Design

- by Chris Berka
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- Psychophysiology, Cognition, Attention, Electroencephalography

- by Gene F Davis
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- Psychophysiology, Cognition, Attention, Electroencephalography
- by Estefania Fuentes
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- Safety Culture, Health and Safety, Mental Workload, Papeles Del Artista
- by Nicklas Dahlstrom and +1
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- Psychology, Cognitive Science, Aviation, Aviation Psychology
- by Stephen Fairclough
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- Psychology, Humans, Female, Male
- by Karel Brookhuis
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- Psychology, Feedback, Speed, Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA)
- by Andrew Neal
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- Psychology, Ergonomics, Problem Solving, Air traffic control
- by Claudine Mėlan and +1
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- Mental Workload

The aim of the experiment was to test the effect of an automated system of bus docking on drivers' mental workload. Reduced workload is thought to be brought about by helping the driver to maneuver, as he or she is required only to monitor proper functioning of the system. However, the true impact of the system on drivers must be studied to guarantee good acceptance and minimal distraction from traffic. Workload was estimated by electrodermal activity recording while drivers tested 5 scenarios involving (or not involving) the docking system. Results showed that docking precision was improved when the system was used. When drivers monitored the functioning of the system, their workload was higher than that observed during manual docking; however, reduced workload was evidenced after a learning process. The docking system was also shown to increase workload in the event of dysfunction, especially when drivers had to take over control. Despite this particular situation, and after h...

- by Zeki Yalcin
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- Engineering, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science
- by David B . Kaber
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- Information Systems, Engineering, Psychology, Situation awareness

This study proposes the braking assistance system for train drivers to prevent an overrun at a station. The assistance system informs a driver of a predicted stopping position calculated by vehicle velocity and deceleration. Train-driving simulator experiments are examined with several subjects who are required train driving with mental calculation assumed mental workload. The assistance system makes it possible to operate the brake handle smoothly, while drivers without the assistance system repeat modified braking operations.

- by Yoshitaka Marumo
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- Engineering, Mental Workload
- by Karel Brookhuis
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- Psychology, Information Processing, Humans, Computer Simulation