Neuroergonomics: The Study of Brain and Behavior at Work

Raja Parasuraman

What is Neuroergonomics?

Neuroergonomics is the study of brain and behavior at work. This interdisciplinary field is concerned with investigations of the neural bases of human perception, cognition, and performance in relation to systems and technologies in the real world -- for example, in the use of computers and various other machines at home or in the workplace, and in operating vehicles such as aircraft, cars, trains, and ships. Neuroergonomics has two major goals: (1) to use existing and emerging knowledge of human performance and brain function to design such systems for safer and more efficient operation; and (2) to advance understanding of human brain function in relation to cognitive processes and performance in real-world tasks.

 

Historical Background

The constituent disciplines of neuroergonomics are neuroscience and ergonomics (or human factors). Both are twentieth-century, post World War II fields, and the rise of both areas can be linked to technological developments initiated by engineers and physicists, particularly digital computers.

Traditionally, ergonomics has not paid much attention to neuroscience or to the results of studies concerning brain mechanisms underlying human perceptual, cognitive, affective, and motor processes. At the same time, neuroscience, and its more recent off-shoot, cognitive neuroscience, has only been partially concerned with whether its findings bear any relation to human functioning in real (as opposed to laboratory) settings, with the exception of applications to clinical disorders. Neuroergonomics is a response to this twin disregard.

The relative neglect by ergonomics of human brain function is consistent with a functionalist approach to the philosophy of mind. Such an approach implies that the characteristics of neural structure and functioning are largely irrelevant to the development of theories of mental functioning. In contrast, cognitive neuroscience suggests that such characteristics constrain and in some cases determine theories of human mental processes.

The relative neglect by neuroscience of applications in ergonomics can be traced to the recency of the field. There is also a tendency to think of applications of neuroscience solely to understanding abnormalities of mental function, that is, to neurological and psychiatric disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia. But if cognitive neuroscience is the study of the neural basis of mental functions, then there is no reason why applications to normal functioning in the real world cannot be examined.

 

Neuroergonomics -- The Merging of Ergonomics and Cognitive Neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience and ergonomics are exciting fields because both may be poised for a Great Leap Forward in the 21st century. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by the White House, and there is tremendous excitement at the prospect of arriving at a deep understanding of the neural basis of cognition in the years ahead. As this decade comes to an end, a proposal has been made to declare the years 2000-2010 the "Decade of Behavior," to emphasize the importance of understanding mechanisms of human behavior to several key societal problems. At the same time, ergonomics is coming of age in terms of its increasing acceptance by industry. There is now at least tacit recognition that any device or system that is used by humans, from small consumer items such as personal computers to large systems such as jet aircraft, cannot be effectively operated without adequate consideration of ergonomics and human factors in the design process.

Currently, cognitive neuroscience and ergonomics are disparate disciplines, and their goals are such that they rarely interact. Neuroergonomics represents the merger and extension of these goals in new directions. To the extent that cognitive neuroscience advances theoretical knowledge on human functioning, it can influence the application of that knowledge to the design of systems. At the same time, ergonomics may provide an avenue for examining the practical utility of basic findings generated by cognitive neuroscientists. The shift from the Decade of the Brain to the proposed Decade of Behavior provides an appropriate background for promoting a new discipline devoted to examining both brain and behavior in relation to work.

 

Examples of Neuroergonomics Research

What kinds of research work falls within the domain of neuroergonomics? Here are some examples.

• Using knowledge of brain mechanisms and neurochemical systems that control circadian rhythms to devise optimal schedules for shift work or to minimize circadian disruption due to travel across time zones.
• Developing functional brain imaging measures of cerebral blood flow to index mental workload during complex, multi-task performance so as to optimize the design of human-machine systems.
• Using event-related brain potentials to examine individual differences in attentional abilities in younger and older pilots.
• Examining cortical mechanisms of human motivation in relation to attention and job performance.
• Developing animal models of human vigilance or sustained attention to discover the neural mechanisms underlying performance decrement during long-duration tasks such as those in aviation and air-traffic control.
• Understanding the neural basis of performance of real-world, complex perceptual-motor tasks such as driving.
• Exploring the neural basis of human error patterns using event-related brain potentials and functional brain imaging.

          More development-oriented work might include the following:

• Applying knowledge of brain and cognitive architectures to produce "neural chips" (as opposed to traditional VLSI architectures) that could produce intelligent user interfaces with exceptionally fast computing systems. These could be used to develop "neuroergonomic aids" for the physically incapacitated.
• Using new insights into the computational and neural basis of spatial navigation to develop improved virtual reality systems.
• Using real-time measurement of brain electrical potentials for adaptive control of computer interfaces by the physically disabled.
• Developing improved robots for underwater and ocean-floor search based on principles of echolocation used by dolphins.

 

Future Directions

 

Since the field of neuroergonomics was inititated in 1998, there have been a number of developments.  Among these are the following:

 

Speecial Issues of Journal on Neuroergonomics

 

Raja Parasuraman has edited two special issues of the journal Theoretical Issues in Ergomonics Science, published

 by Taylor and Francis at: www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tf/1463922x.html on the topic of neuroergonomics.  The two

 special issues appear in Volume 4, numbers 1 and 2.

 

Volume 4, Number 1

 

1.  Raja Parasuraman, Neuroergonomics: Research and Practice

 

2.  Arthur F. Kramer & Jason S. McCarley, Oculomotor Behavior as a Reflection of Attention and Memory

     Processes: Neural Mechanishms and Applications to Human Factors

 

3.  Marcel Just, Patricia Carpenter, & Akira Miyake, Neuroindices of Cognitive Workload: Neuroimaging,

     Pupillometric, and Event-Related Potential Studies of Brain Work

 

4.  Edward M. Hitchcock, Joel S. Warm, Gerald Matthews, William N. Dember, Paula K. Shear, Lloyd D. Tripp,

     David W. Mayleben, & Raja Parasuraman, Automation Cueing Modulates Cerebral Blood Flow and

     Vigilance in a Simulated Air Traffic Control Task

 

5.  Alan Gevins and Michael E. Smith, Neurophysiologicl Measures of Cognitive Workload during Human

     Computer Interaction

 

6.  Carryl L. Baldwin, Commentary: Neuroergonomics of Mental Workload.  New Insights from the

     Convergence of Brain and Behavior in Ergonomics Research.

 

Volume 4, Number 2

 

1.  Nadine Sarter & Martin Sarter, Neuroergonomics: Opportunities and Challenges of Merging Cognitive

     Neuroscience with Cognitive Ergonomics.

 

2.  Penny Sanderson, Andrew Pipingas, Frank Danieli, & Richard Silberstein, Process Control Monitoring with

    Configural Displays: A Neuroimaging Study

 

3.  Waldermar Karwowski, Wlodzimierz Siemionow, & Krystyna Gielo-Perczak, Physical Neuroergonomics:

      The Human Brain in Control of Physical Work Activities

 

4.  Mark Scerbo, Fred Freeman, & Peter Mikulka, A Brain-Based System for Adaptive Automation

 

5.  Larry Hettinger, Pedro Branco, Miguel Encarnacao, & Paolo Bonato, Neuroadaptive Technoligies: Applying

     Neuroergonomics to the Design of Advanced Interfaces

 

6.  Perter Hancock & James Szalma, The Future of Neuroergonomics

 

Graduate Research Training in Neuroergonomics

 

While graduate research training opportunities in neuroergonomics are emerging, neuroergonomic research training at The Cognitive Science Laboratory at Catholic University of America is offered as a specialization with the Ph.D. Applied Experimental Psychology program.  Applicants interested in further information can also email Dr. Raja Parasuraman directly at parasuraman@cua.edu

 

Opportunities for advanced research training also exist in the Division of Neuroergonomics in the Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa.  Contact Dr. Matthew Rizzo at: matthew-rizzo@uiowa.edu

 

Guestbook

Here on the CUA Cognitive Science Lab's Web site, we are hosting a guestbook / discussion forum on the rapidly growing new field of Neuroergonomics. Your responses and feedback are welcome. Click below on "Sign Guestbook" to participate.

View Guestbook......... Sign Guestbook

(Click below to set up your own free guestbook)


To contact Dr. Raja Parasuraman directly:

e-mail: parasuraman@cua.edu

Cognitive Science Lab
The Catholic University of America
Washington DC 20064
fax: 202-319-4456
phone: 202-319-5825

Cognitive Science Lab Home Page