Implementation of fNIRS for monitoring levels of expertise and mental workload

Scott C. Bunce, Kurtulus Izzetoglu, Hasan Ayaz, Patricia Shewokis, Meltem Izzetoglu, Kambiz Pourrezaei, Banu Onaral

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

An accurate measure of mental workload would help improve operational safety and efficacy in many environments that involve multitasking or sustained vigilance. The current study utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRs) to examine the relationship of the hemodynamic response in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as it related to mental workload, level of expertise, and task performance. DLPFC responses were monitored with fNIRs while 8 participants (4 with high practice, 4 novices) completed a quasirealistic computerized Warship Commander Task with various levels of difficulty. The results show that greater expertise was associated with relatively lower oxygenation (less neural activity) at low to moderate levels of taskload, but higher oxygenation and better performance at high levels of taskload. For novices, oxygenation was higher at moderate levels of taskload, but dropped precipitously at higher levels of taskload, along with performance, consistent with disengaging from the task. Results are interpreted within a "scaffoldingstorage" framework.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationFoundations of Augmented Cognition
Subtitle of host publicationDirecting the Future of Adaptive Systems - 6th International Conference, FAC 2011, Held as Part of HCI International 2011, Proceedings
Pages13-22
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Event6th International Conference on Foundations of Augmented Cognition, FAC 2011, Held as Part of HCI International 2011 - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: Jul 9 2011Jul 14 2011

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume6780 LNAI
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Other

Other6th International Conference on Foundations of Augmented Cognition, FAC 2011, Held as Part of HCI International 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period7/9/117/14/11

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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