Der freie Wille in der psychologischen Forschung: Ist das Bereitschaftspotenzial ein Indikator für neuronale Handlungsvorbereitung?

Vor 35 Jahren publizierten Libet, Gleason, Wright und Pearl (1983) ihre bekannte, aber methodisch nicht unumstrittene Studie und berichteten, dass der Onset des Bereitschaftspotenzials als Indikator für neuronale Handlungsvorbereitung der bewussten Willensäußerung einer Handlung 350 ms vorausgeht und somit die Handlung unbewusst initiiert wird. Dieses Ergebnis wurde oft als Indiz gegen die Existenz des freien Willens interpretiert und stieß eine bis heute andauernde Debatte an. Nachfolgend stützten einige Untersuchungen die von Libet et al. (1983) publizierte Reihenfolge (Haggard & Eimer, 1999; Keller & Heckhausen, 1990), jedoch wurde gegen die eingesetzte Methode eine Vielzahl von Einwänden erhoben. Kritisiert werden u.a. der artifizielle Charakter der beobachteten Handlung, die Verlässlichkeit der Zeitschätzung und in jüngerer Zeit auch die Interpretation des Bereitschaftspotenzials als Indikator neuronaler Handlungsvorbereitung (Jo, Hinterberger, Wittmann, Borghardt, & Schmidt, 2013; Miller, Shepherdson, & Trevena, 2011; Schmidt, Jo, Wittmann, & Hinterberger, 2016; Verleger, Haake, Baur, & Smigasiewicz, 2016). Zusammenfassend werden die Ergebnisse von zwei Studien (n=24 und n=18) berichtet, in denen die Bereitschaftspotenziale bei der Bearbeitung einer modifizierten Libet-Aufgabe mit drei Bedingungen gemessen wurden. Die Versuchspersonen beobachteten einen Uhrzeiger (2,4 sec/Umlauf) und betätigen während des Uhrumlaufs zu einem frei gewählten Zeitpunkt eine Taste (Bedingung 1), zusätzlich berichten sie nachfolgend den Zeitpunkt ihrer Handlungsintention anhand des umlaufenden Zeigers (Bedingung 2) oder betätigten eine Taste zu einem vorher festgelegten Zeitpunkt (Bedingung 3). Die Ergebnisse von Libet et al. (1983) wurden im Wesentlichen repliziert. Auffällig ist jedoch, dass bei etwa 25 % der Versuchspersonen keine klare Negativität im Sinne des Bereitschaftspotenzials messbar ist. Die Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Kritik am Bereitschaftspotenzial diskutiert und Implikationen für weitere Forschung abgeleitet

Comparison of ability requirements for UAS operators

Since the introduction of UAS in the German Bundeswehr, their deployment has steadily grown and therefore the demand for operating personnel. Due to the lack of knowledge about specific demands created by operating UAS, the DLR German Aerospace Center, Department of Aviation and Space Psychology in cooperation with the German Air Force, Center of Aerospace Medicine conducts a study to empirically analyze ability requirements of UAS operators. Aim of the study is the development of specific requirement profiles for UAS operating personnel as well as the identification of possible differences in requirements between unmanned and manned military aviation. Requirement profiles will be differentiated for different types of UAS and different operating positions (pilot vs. sensor operator). Experienced UAS operators as well as pilots of manned aircraft answered a German version of the Fleishman Job Analysis Survey (FJAS). The FJAS consists of 73 scales for assessment of required abilities and skills from cognitive, psychomotor and sensory domains as well as interactive and social domains and was extended for two additional scales developed at DLR. First results suggest that general requirements irrespective of operating position can be deduced such as high mental persistence, high reliability and high selective attention. Also, position specific requirements were identified: For UAS pilots, operational monitoring and problem recognition are central aspects. For sensor operators, demands are higher in abilities like visualization and perceptual speed. Differences between systems will be discussed. The results can contribute valuable information about human factors relevant for selection, training, and stress management of future UAS operators

Human Factors in Unmanned Aerial Systems in the German Bundeswehr

In military contexts, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) efficiently fulfil reconnaissance duties and increase the safety of military personnel. However, compared to conventionally piloted aircraft, there is an increased rate of accidents involving UAS, some of which were a result of technological factors. Crucially, human factor failures have also been shown to contribute to UAS mishaps. As yet, little is known about the specific demands on operating UAS personnel. The aim of the present study, conducted in cooperation with the German Air Force’s Center of Aerospace Medicine, is to empirically assess the demands of the UAS operating positions within the German Bundeswehr. A total of 218 experienced UAS operators completed an extended version of the Fleishman Job Analysis Survey consisting of 75 scales for assessment of required abilities and skills from cognitive, psychomotor, physical, sensory and interactive/social domains. Results show both general and system- or position-specific demands on UAS operators. The outcomes of this study contribute to the development of specific requirement profiles for UAS operating personnel and will serve as a basis for future expert evaluation workshops, in which the impact of HMI concepts and designs and different levels of automation on operator demands will be determined

Cognitive and psychomotor requirements for operators of military UAS

In military contexts, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) efficiently fulfil reconnaissance duties and increase the safety of military personnel. Operators of HALE/MALE (High/Medium Altitude Long Endurance) systems are often recruited among pilots of manned military aviation. These dual careers in manned and unmanned aviation offer some advantages, but otherwise, it requires more staff for manned aircraft, which is difficult to find on today’s competitive labour market, and the training is cost-intensive. As yet, little is known about the specific demands on operating UAS personnel. The aim of the present study, conducted in cooperation with the German Air Force’s Centre of Aerospace Medicine, is to empirically assess the demands of the UAS operating positions within the German Bundeswehr and to develop specific requirement profiles. A sample of n=192 UAS operators and sensor/payload operators of the German Air Force system Heron, and the German Army systems Luna and KZO completed an extended version of the Fleishman Job Analysis Survey (F-JAS). The F-JAS consists of 73 scales, to assess the required abilities and skills from cognitive, psychomotor, physical, sensory and interactive/social domains and was extended for two additional scales (operational monitoring and vigilance) developed at the German Aerospace Center. With respect to requirements in cognitive and psychomotor domains, our results show a large degree of overlap between the systems, but differences between the operating positions (aerial vehicle operator vs. sensor/payload operator). Further distinctions between the systems on basis of the single F-JAS scales will be reported, and implications for future research will be discussed