scholarly journals Cognitive Load and Situation Awareness for Soldiers: Using an Auditory Detection Response Task

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 272-276
Author(s):  
Tzvi Spivak ◽  
Justin G. Hollands ◽  
Eric W. Kramkowski
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Auditory Presentation ◽  
Auditory Detection ◽  
Processing Information ◽  
Tactical Decision ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Response Task

We examined the cognitive load and situation awareness of tactical decision makers processing information with a battle management system. We presented information in visual and auditory form. To measure workload, we used an auditory detection response task (DRT). We found that DRT performance was worse with faster message presentation and with auditory presentation, indicating greater workload in those conditions. We also found that situation awareness was lower with faster presentation. However, we found that auditory presentation produced greater situation awareness than visual presentation. These results are partially consistent with results of a previous study (Hollands, Spivak, & Kramkowski, in press), but suggest that workload and situation awareness can sometimes diverge.

Cognitive Load and Situation Awareness for Soldiers: Effects of Message Presentation Rate and Sensory Modality

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 763-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin G. Hollands ◽  
Tzvi Spivak ◽  
Eric W. Kramkowski
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Presentation Rate ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
Auditory Presentation ◽  
Presentation Modality ◽  
Nasa Tlx ◽  
Response Task

Objective: We sought to determine the influence of message presentation rate (MPR) and sensory modality on soldier cognitive load. Background: Soldiers commonly communicate tactical information by radio. The Canadian Army is equipping soldiers with a battle management system (BMS), which also allows them to communicate by text. Method: We varied presentation modality (auditory vs. visual) and MPR (fast or slow) in an experiment involving a tactical scenario. Participants (soldiers) received messages and periodically provided situation reports to higher level command, and the scored reports were used to provide a measure of situation awareness (SA). The detection response task (DRT) and NASA-TLX were used to measure cognitive load. Results: The fast MPR reduced DRT accuracy and increased response times relative to slow MPR. The NASA-TLX results also showed higher subjective workload ratings for several subscales with fast MPR. Messages presented visually produced greater cognitive load, with slower DRT response times for the visual than the auditory condition. SA scores were higher with slower MPR and auditory presentation. There was no statistical interaction of presentation modality and rate for any measure. Conclusion: Fast MPR and visual presentation increased cognitive load and degraded SA. Application: These findings show that the DRT can be used to measure workload effectively in a tactical military context and that the method of information presentation affects how soldiers process information in a BMS.

The Effects of Cognitive and Visual Workload on Peripheral Detection in the Detection Response Task

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 855-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim van Winsum
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Response Task ◽  
Stimulus Eccentricity

Objective: The independent effects of cognitive and visual load on visual Detection Response Task (vDRT) reaction times were studied in a driving simulator by performing a backwards counting task and a simple driving task that required continuous focused visual attention to the forward view of the road. The study aimed to unravel the attentional processes underlying the Detection Response Task effects. Background: The claim of previous studies that performance degradation on the vDRT is due to a general interference instead of visual tunneling was challenged in this experiment. Method: vDRT stimulus eccentricity and stimulus conspicuity were applied as within-subject factors. Results: Increased cognitive load and visual load both resulted in increased response times (RTs) on the vDRT. Cognitive load increased RT but revealed no task by stimulus eccentricity interaction. However, effects of visual load on RT showed a strong task by stimulus eccentricity interaction under conditions of low stimulus conspicuity. Also, more experienced drivers performed better on the vDRT while driving. Conclusion: This was seen as evidence for a differential effect of cognitive and visual workload. The results supported the tunnel vision model for visual workload, where the sensitivity of the peripheral visual field reduced as a function of visual load. However, the results supported the general interference model for cognitive workload. Application: This has implications for the diagnosticity of the vDRT: The pattern of results differentiated between visual task load and cognitive task load. It also has implications for theory development and workload measurement for different types of tasks.

On the Cost of Detection Response Task Performance on Cognitive Load

2020 ◽  
pp. 001872082093162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco N. Biondi ◽  
Balakumar Balasingam ◽  
Prathamesh Ayare
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Pupil Diameter ◽  
Mental Workload ◽  
Measuring System ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Response Task ◽  
The Cost

Objective This study investigates the cost of detection response task performance on cognitive load. Background Measuring system operator’s cognitive load is a foremost challenge in human factors and ergonomics. The detection response task is a standardized measure of cognitive load. It is hypothesized that, given its simple reaction time structure, it has no cost on cognitive load. We set out to test this hypothesis by utilizing pupil diameter as an alternative metric of cognitive load. Method Twenty-eight volunteers completed one of four experimental tasks with increasing levels of cognitive demand (control, 0-back, 1-back, and 2-back) with or without concurrent DRT performance. Pupil diameter was selected as nonintrusive metric of cognitive load. Self-reported workload was also recorded. Results A significant main effect of DRT presence was found for pupil diameter and self-reported workload. Larger pupil diameter was found when the n-back task was performed concurrently with the DRT, compared to no-DRT conditions. Consistent results were found for mental workload ratings and n-back performance. Conclusion Results indicate that DRT performance produced an added cost on cognitive load. The magnitude of the change in pupil diameter was comparable to that observed when transitioning from a condition of low task load to one where the 2-back was performed. The significant increase in cognitive load accompanying DRT performance was also reflected in higher self-reported workload. Application DRT is a valuable tool to measure operator’s cognitive load. However, these results advise caution when discounting it as cost-free metric with no added burden on operator’s cognitive resources.

Validating Two Assessment Strategies for Visual and Cognitive Load in a Simulated Driving Task

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1899-1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer Castro ◽  
Joel Cooper ◽  
David Strayer
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Mental Workload ◽  
Driver Distraction ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Reliable Assessment ◽  
Driving Task ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Response Task ◽  
Assessment Strategies ◽  
Simulated Driving Task

With the emergence of vehicle-based technologies that could compete for attention due to visual and cognitive workloads in a driving environment, it is important to accurately assess the various components of potential distractions. Current Detection Response Task (DRT) measurements are sensitive to overall mental workload, but may not be useful for assessing visual workload. This study seeks to examine the ability of two unique extensions of DRTs to assess levels of cognitive and visual load in a lateral steering tracking task. Each DRT was tested in conditions that manipulated cognitive load, visual load, the combination of cognitive and visual load, and normal driving conditions. The data suggest that an altered design of the DRT may allow for reliable assessment of cognitive and visual loads simultaneously during a driving task. Measuring the components of different types of workload that lead to driver distraction may inform industry standards for assessing driver distraction in the vehicle.

Optic Flow and Tunnel Vision in the Detection Response Task

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 992-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim van Winsum
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Optic Flow ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Autonomous Driving ◽  
Tunnel Vision ◽  
Driving Task ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Response Task ◽  
Stimulus Eccentricity ◽  
Visual Cognitive

Objective:In a driving simulator, a backwards counting task, a simple steering task, and a fully autonomous driving task were applied to study the independent effects of cognitive load, visual-cognitive-manual load, and optic flow on visual detection response task (vDRT) performance. The study was designed to increase the understanding of the processes underlying vDRT effects.Background:The tunnel vision effect induced by a “steering while driving” task found in a previous study was investigated further in this experiment.Method:Stimulus eccentricity and conspicuity were applied as within-subjects factors.Results:Cognitive load, visual-cognitive-manual load, and optic flow all resulted in increased vDRT response time (RT). Cognitive load and visual-cognitive-manual load both increased RT but revealed no interaction of task by stimulus eccentricity. However, optic flow resulted in a task by stimulus eccentricity interaction on vDRT RT that was evidence of a tunnel vision effect.Conclusion:The results suggested that optic flow may be a factor responsible for tunnel vision while driving, although this does not support the tunnel vision model because it is unrelated to workload. However, the results supported the general interference model for cognitive workload.Application:The results have implications for the diagnosticity of the vDRT. During driving tasks, tunnel vision effects may occur as a result of optic flow, and these effects are unrelated to workload.

scholarly journals A Broader Application of the Detection Response Task to Cognitive Tasks and Online Environments

2020 ◽  
pp. 001872082093680
Author(s):  
Reilly J. Innes ◽  
Nathan J. Evans ◽  
Zachary L. Howard ◽  
Ami Eidels ◽  
Scott D. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Cognitive Workload ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Online Environments ◽  
Response Task

Objective The present research applied a well-established measure of cognitive workload in driving literature to an in-lab paradigm. We then extended this by comparing the in-lab version of the task to an online version. Background The accurate and objective measurement of cognitive workload is important in many aspects of psychological research. The detection response task (DRT) is a well-validated method for measuring cognitive workload that has been used extensively in applied tasks, for example, to investigate the effects of phone usage or passenger conversation on driving, but has been used sparingly outside of this field. Method The study investigated whether the DRT could be used to measure cognitive workload in tasks more commonly used in experimental cognitive psychology and whether this application could be extended to online environments. We had participants perform a multiple object tracking (MOT) task while simultaneously performing a DRT. We manipulated the cognitive load of the MOT task by changing the number of dots to be tracked. Results Measurements from the DRT were sensitive to changes in the cognitive load, establishing the efficacy of the DRT for experimental cognitive tasks in lab-based situations. This sensitivity continued when applied to an online environment (our code for the online DRT implementation is freely available at https://osf.io/dc39s/ ), though to a reduced extent compared to the in-lab situation. Conclusion The MOT task provides an effective manipulation of cognitive workload. The DRT is sensitive to changes in workload across a range of settings and is suitable to use outside of driving scenarios, as well as via online delivery. Application Methodology shows how the DRT could be used to measure sources of cognitive workload in a range of human factors contexts.

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