Electroencephalography (EEG) has the prospect of providing a means to gauge operator workload in a manner that does not intrude on the task being performed. Specifically, it has been proposed that the technique could be used as a method to speed the learning of a task, by adjusting the task to suit the state of the learner. The present study recorded EEG while participants performed a simulated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) reconnaissance task. Analysis of power in three EEG frequency bands of interest found differences between the types of task being performed; however more complex analysis may be necessary to discern levels of difficulty within the task.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DelormeA.MakeigS. (2004). EEGLAB: An open source toolbox for analysis of single-trial EEG dynamics including independent component analysis. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 134(1), 9–21.
2.
GevinsA.SmithM.McEvoyL.YuD. (1997). High-resolution EEG mapping of cortical activation related to working memory: Effects of task difficulty, type of processing, and practice. Cerebral Cortex, 7(4), 374–385.
3.
HuangR. S.JungT. P.DelormeA.MakeigS. (2008). Tonic and phasic electroencephalographic dynamics during continuous compensatory tracking. Neuroimage, 39(4), 1896–1909.
4.
JasperH. H. V. (1958). The ten twenty electrode system of the International Federation. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 10, 370–375.
5.
KlimeschW. (1999). EEG alpha and theta oscillations reflect cognitive and memory performance: A review and analysis. Brain Research Reviews, 29(2–3), 169–195.
6.
KlimeschW.FreunbergerR.SausengP.GruberW. (2008). A short review of slow phase synchronization and memory: Evidence for control processes in different memory systems?Brain Research, 1235, 31–44.
ParasuramanR.CosenzoK.A.De VisserE. (2009). Adaptive Automation for Human Supervision of Multiple Uninhabited Vehicles: Effects on Change Detection, Situation Awareness, and Mental Workload. Military Psychology, 21(2), 270–297.
10.
PfurtschellerG. (1977). Graphical display and statistical evaluation of event-related desynchronization (ERD). Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 43(5), 757–760.
11.
PomrankyR. A. (2006). Human Robotics Interaction Army Technology Objective Raven Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Analysis and Modeling (No. ARL-TR-3717). Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
12.
SausengP.KlimeschW.DoppelmayrM.PecherstorferT.FreunbergerR.HanslmayrS. (2005). EEG alpha synchronization and functional coupling during top-down processing in a working memory task. Human Brain Mapping, 26(2), 148–155.
