Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight
Abstract Background Pilots must process multiple streams of information simultaneously. Mental workload is one of the main issues in man–machine interactive mode when dealing with multiple tasks. This study aimed to combine functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electrocardiogram (ECG) to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2489 |
| _version_ | 1827860765004005376 |
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| author | Wenbin Li Rong Li Xiaoping Xie Yaoming Chang |
| author_facet | Wenbin Li Rong Li Xiaoping Xie Yaoming Chang |
| author_sort | Wenbin Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Pilots must process multiple streams of information simultaneously. Mental workload is one of the main issues in man–machine interactive mode when dealing with multiple tasks. This study aimed to combine functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect changes in mental workload during multitasking in a simulated flight. Methods Twenty‐six participants performed three multitasking tasks at different mental workload levels. These mental workload levels were set by varying the number of subtasks. fNIRS and ECG signals were recorded during tasks. Participants filled in the national aeronautics and space administration task load index (NASA‐TLX) scale after each task. The effects of mental workload on scores of NASA‐TLX, performance of tasks, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation were analyzed. Results Compared to multitasking in lower mental workload conditions, participants exhibited higher scores of NASA‐TLX, HR, and PFC activation when multitasking in high mental workload conditions. Their performance was worse during the high mental workload multitasking condition, as evidenced by the higher average tracking distance, smaller number of response times, and longer response time of the meter. The standard deviation of the RR intervals (SDNN) was negatively correlated with subjective mental workload in the low task load condition and PFC activation was positively correlated with HR and subjective mental workload in the medium task load condition. Conclusion HR and PFC activation can be used to detect changes in mental workload during simulated flight multitasking tasks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:26:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8040b2453af041079fb6a0077e497d13 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:26:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj.art-8040b2453af041079fb6a0077e497d132023-08-25T04:42:41ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792022-04-01124n/an/a10.1002/brb3.2489Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flightWenbin Li0Rong Li1Xiaoping Xie2Yaoming Chang3Department of Aerospace Hygiene Faculty of Aerospace Medicine Air Force Medical University Xi'an Shaanxi P. R. ChinaDepartment of Internal Medicine Faculty of Clinical Medicine Xi'an Medical University Xi'an Shaanxi P. R. ChinaDepartment of Aerospace Hygiene Faculty of Aerospace Medicine Air Force Medical University Xi'an Shaanxi P. R. ChinaDepartment of Aerospace Hygiene Faculty of Aerospace Medicine Air Force Medical University Xi'an Shaanxi P. R. ChinaAbstract Background Pilots must process multiple streams of information simultaneously. Mental workload is one of the main issues in man–machine interactive mode when dealing with multiple tasks. This study aimed to combine functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect changes in mental workload during multitasking in a simulated flight. Methods Twenty‐six participants performed three multitasking tasks at different mental workload levels. These mental workload levels were set by varying the number of subtasks. fNIRS and ECG signals were recorded during tasks. Participants filled in the national aeronautics and space administration task load index (NASA‐TLX) scale after each task. The effects of mental workload on scores of NASA‐TLX, performance of tasks, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation were analyzed. Results Compared to multitasking in lower mental workload conditions, participants exhibited higher scores of NASA‐TLX, HR, and PFC activation when multitasking in high mental workload conditions. Their performance was worse during the high mental workload multitasking condition, as evidenced by the higher average tracking distance, smaller number of response times, and longer response time of the meter. The standard deviation of the RR intervals (SDNN) was negatively correlated with subjective mental workload in the low task load condition and PFC activation was positively correlated with HR and subjective mental workload in the medium task load condition. Conclusion HR and PFC activation can be used to detect changes in mental workload during simulated flight multitasking tasks.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2489flightfNIRSheart rate variabilitymental workloadmultitasking |
| spellingShingle | Wenbin Li Rong Li Xiaoping Xie Yaoming Chang Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight Brain and Behavior flight fNIRS heart rate variability mental workload multitasking |
| title | Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight |
| title_full | Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight |
| title_short | Evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight |
| title_sort | evaluating mental workload during multitasking in simulated flight |
| topic | flight fNIRS heart rate variability mental workload multitasking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2489 |
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