Keeping the patient asleep and alive : Towards a computational cognitive model of disturbance management in anaesthesia

We have analysed rich, dynamic data about the behaviour of anaesthetists during the management of a simulated critical incident in the operating theatre. We use a paper based analysis and a partial implementation to further the development of a computational cognitive model for disturbance management in anaesthesia. We suggest that our data analysis pattern may be used for the analysis of behavioural data describing cognitive and observable events in other complex dynamic domains. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.C

Cognitive modelling of attentional networks: efficiencies, interactions, impairments and development

According to the attention network theory, attention is viewed as an organ system comprising specialised networks that carry out functions of alerting, orienting and executive control. The Attention Network Test (ANT) is a simple and popular experiment that measures the efficiencies and interactions of these three subcomponents of attention in a single task, and has been used for adults, children and attention deficit patients. In this thesis, cognitive modelling is used as a research tool to simulate the performance of subjects on the ANT, as well as variations of the ANT using ACT-R 6.0 cognitive architecture. All models are validated against human data using various goodness-of-fit criteria at multiple measures of the latency, accuracy and efficiency of the three networks. Once the simulation of healthy human performance on the ANT is established, modifications inspired by psychology literature are made to simulate the performance on ANT by children and patients affected with Alzheimer‘s disease (AD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The implementation of networks, their interactions and impairments in the models are shown to be theoretically grounded. Based on the simulation results and the understanding gained through model processes, a number of novel predictions are made, behaviour of the networks and a few discrepancies in human data are explained. The model predicts that in the case of Alzheimer‘s disease, the orienting network may be impaired and cueing may have a positive effect on conflict resolution. Also, in the case of mTBI, it was predicted that the validity effect may be impaired only in the earlier weeks after the injury. For children, a possible relationship between processing speed and mechanism of inhibitory control is predicted. It is posited that there is not always a 'global clock' that controls processing speed and further different processes may be running with different processing times

Queueing Network Modeling of Human Performance in Complex Cognitive Multi-task Scenarios.

As the complexity of human-machine systems grows rapidly, there is an increasing need for human factors theories and computational methods that can quantitatively model and simulate human performance and mental workload in complex multi-task scenarios. In response to this need, I have developed and evaluated an integrated cognitive architecture named QN-ACTR, which integrates two previously isolated but complementary cognitive architectures – Queueing Network (QN) and Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational (ACT-R). Combining their advantages and overcoming the limitations of each method, QN-ACTR possesses the benefits of modeling a wider range of tasks including multi-tasks with complex cognitive activities that existing methods have difficulty to model. These benefits have been evaluated and demonstrated by comparing model results with human results in the simulation of multi-task scenarios including skilled transcription typing and reading comprehension (human-computer interaction), medical decision making with concurrent tasks (healthcare), and driving with a secondary speech comprehension task (transportation), all of which contain important and practical human factors issues. QN-ACTR models produced performance and mental workload results similar to the human results. To support industrial applications of QN-ACTR, I have also developed the usability features of QN-ACTR to facilitate the use of this cognitive engineering tool by industrial and human factors engineers. Future research can apply QN-ACTR – which is a generic computational modeling theory and method – to other domains with important human factors issues.PHDIndustrial & Operations EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102477/1/shicao_1.pd

Belief Representation Systematic Approach (BRSA): an agent-based model to understand a simple theory of mind

A meaningful social life relies on understanding others’ minds and behaviours. Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to reason about an individual’s mental states such as beliefs and desires, and to understand and predict how these mental states shape an individual’s behaviour. This thesis aims to develop a systematic approach for understanding the underlying processes of a simple theory of mind and to evaluate the performance of theory of mind ability in a social context. For this purpose, two case studies using agent-based modelling methodology has been conducted. An original set of basic processes underpinning ToM ability, termed Belief Representation Systematic Approach (BRSA) has been explored through these two models. BRSA reconstructs ToM processes into four main phases: Perception, Memory, Reasoning beliefs and desires, and Action. BRSA clarifies that there is a difference between having ToM and ‘using’ it. The reasoning involved in the third and fourth phases of BRSA influences the agents’ performances. BRSA shows that false belief tasks require two preconditions, resources and reasoning, to be considered as an acid test for ToM competence. Both models demonstrate that developing agents’ understanding of others’ mental states on the micro level will lead to significant improvements in their social performances on the macro level

Modelo experimental para la detección, adquisición de competencias y definición de perfiles profesionales en el sector multimedia de las empresas TIC

The contribution of this investigation will be basically towards the display and definition of the profiles and their professional abilities within the multimedia sector of the TIC companies. It also provides the detection, promotion and orientation of the needs for sufficient training. This investigation is concerned with the detection of training requirements needed by a professional in the multimedia industry of the TIC sector by means of defining his or her professional abilities. Any detected deficiencies will be the basis for training course recommendations for a particular professional profile. They will have the support from the training programmes of the LAM (Laboratory of Multimedia Applications) based on a training model that we call "hybrid". This is used for the production and integration of training matters and for virtual places of learning.Abilities are detected by means of deliberately sampled questionnaires. Weaknesses are detected by evaluating knowledge gained.The method has been applied to other profiles and in other professional sectors.Postprint (published version

Modelo experimental para la detección, adquisición de competencias y definición de perfiles profesionales en el sector multimedia de las empresas TIC

The contribution of this investigation will be basically towards the display and definition of the profiles and their professional abilities within the multimedia sector of the TIC companies. It also provides the detection, promotion and orientation of the needs for sufficient training. This investigation is concerned with the detection of training requirements needed by a professional in the multimedia industry of the TIC sector by means of defining his or her professional abilities. Any detected deficiencies will be the basis for training course recommendations for a particular professional profile. They will have the support from the training programmes of the LAM (Laboratory of Multimedia Applications) based on a training model that we call "hybrid". This is used for the production and integration of training matters and for virtual places of learning.Abilities are detected by means of deliberately sampled questionnaires. Weaknesses are detected by evaluating knowledge gained.The method has been applied to other profiles and in other professional sectors