Putting the Brain to Work: Neuroergonomics Past, Present, and Future

Objective: The authors describe research and applications in prominent areas of neuroergonomics. Background: Because human factors/ergonomics examines behavior and mind at work, it should include the study of brain mechanisms underlying human performance. Methods: Neuroergonomic studies are reviewed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human factors 2008-06, Vol.50 (3), p.468-474
Main Authors: Parasuraman, Raja, Wilson, Glenn F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Ergonomics
Ergonomics. Human factors
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics
Human factors
Human factors research
Human performance
Humans
Molecular Biology
Occupational psychology
Psychobiology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Resource depletion
Space life sciences
Workload - psychology
Workloads
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Summary:Objective: The authors describe research and applications in prominent areas of neuroergonomics. Background: Because human factors/ergonomics examines behavior and mind at work, it should include the study of brain mechanisms underlying human performance. Methods: Neuroergonomic studies are reviewed in four areas: workload and vigilance, adaptive automation, neuroengineering, and molecular genetics and individual differences. Results: Neuroimaging studies have helped identify the components of mental workload, workload assessment in complex tasks, and resource depletion in vigilance. Furthermore, real-time neurocognitive assessment of workload can trigger adaptive automation. Neural measures can also drive brain-computer interfaces to provide disabled users new communication channels. Finally, variants of particular genes can be associated with individual differences in specific cognitive functions. Conclusions: Neuroergonomics shows that considering what makes work possible — the human brain — can enrich understanding of the use of technology by humans and can inform technological design. Application: Applications of neuroergonomics include the assessment of operator workload and vigilance, implementation of real-time adaptive automation, neuroengineering for people with disabilities, and design of selection and training methods.
ISSN:0018-7208
1547-8181
DOI:10.1518/001872008X288349