Exploration of cognitive strategies used on egocentric perspective-taking : an eye-tracking study on 2 different experimental settings : controlled laboratory conditions and simulated-microgravity conditions

In recent years, eye-tracking is widely used in neuroergonomics and human factors research to explore visual screening and cognitive strategies during complex visuospatial tasks. More especially, aircraft, aerial vehicles, and space navigation require reliable spatial abilities that rely on a frame of reference, i.e. a perspective an operator chooses to describe a location in space or to perform an action. This can be done by using an allocentric or object-centered reference frame, when the object itself or its features orients an operator in space, according to an egocentric frame of reference that exploits the operator’s’ own perspective, and generally involves a body-axis rotation, or according to a third person that requires an operator to adopt another persons’ perspective. Reference frames and thus orientations in space, either real or mental, result from multisensory integration of visual, proprioceptive and vestibular information

Differences in Multitask Resource Reallocation After Change in Task Values

International audienceObjective The objective was to characterize multitask resource reallocation strategies when managing subtasks with various assigned values.Background When solving a resource conflict in multitasking, Salvucci and Taatgen predict a globally rational strategy will be followed that favors the most urgent subtask and optimizes global performance. However, Katidioti and Taatgen identified a locally rational strategy that optimizes only a subcomponent of the whole task, leading to detrimental consequences on global performance. Moreover, the question remains open whether expertise would have an impact on the choice of the strategy.Method We adopted a multitask environment used for pilot selection with a change in emphasis on two out of four subtasks while all subtasks had to be maintained over a minimum performance. A laboratory eye-tracking study contrasted 20 recently selected pilot students considered as experienced with this task and 15 university students considered as novices.Results When two subtasks were emphasized, novices focused their resources particularly on one high-value subtask and failed to prevent both low-value subtasks falling below minimum performance. On the contrary, experienced people delayed the processing of one low-value subtask but managed to optimize global performance.Conclusion In a multitasking environment where some subtasks are emphasized, novices follow a locally rational strategy whereas experienced participants follow a globally rational strategy.Application During complex training, trainees are only able to adjust their resource allocation strategy to subtask emphasis changes once they are familiar with the multitasking environment

Évaluation d’un système de résolution de conflits, ERASMUS : apport de l’oculométrie comme mesure de la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens en-route

Air Traffic Control has to handle the strong and constant increase in air traffic density. In this context, mental workload experienced by air traffic controllers is a key research concept to maintain the actual safety level. ERASMUS is an automated aid system designed to reduce air traffic controllers’ workload. The purpose of ERASMUS is to compensate the effects of the air traffic growth by reducing the increased mental workload associated with a greater number of potential conflicts. Prior experiments designed to validate the ERASMUS system showed a reduction in ratings of mental workload, but only subjectives measures were used. In the present thesis, the first goal is to complete these first results by providing, for the first time, a real time objective measure of controllers’ mental workload. In this purpose, we had to develop a new non-intrusive eye-tracking platform in a fully realistic simulation environment. The eye movements of seven controllers, placed in a high-fidelity simulation, were recorded. Traffic sequences were manipulated (with vs. without ERASMUS). Consistent with a reduced workload hypothesis, results showed medium to large effects of ERASMUS on the amplitude of saccades, on the time spent gazing aircraft, and on the distribution of attention over the visual scene. Moreover, without ERASMUS, growth in the traffic density significantly increased pupil diameters. In contrast, when ERASMUS was activated, traffic density growth did not impact significantly pupil diameters. Finally, we discuss the impact of ERASMUS on mental workload and the use of pupillometric measures in an ecological air traffic control environment.Le contrôle aérien doit faire face à une forte intensification du trafic aérien. Dans cette situation, la problématique de la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens est une préoccupation majeure pour maintenir le niveau de sécurité actuel. Le système d’aide automatisé ERASMUS a été élaboré afin de réduire la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens. L’objectif d’ERASMUS est de compenser les effets liés à l’intensification du trafic en réduisant de manière subliminale la charge mentale associée à l’augmentation des conflits potentiels. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de proposer pour la première fois une mesure objective de l’impact du système d’aide ERASMUS sur la charge mentale des contrôleurs aériens. La réalisation de cet objectif a nécessité le développement d’une plateforme originale d’enregistrement et de traitement des mouvements oculaires non intrusive dans un environnement de simulation hautement fidèle. Les mouvements oculaires d’un groupe de contrôleurs aériens experts ont été enregistrés. En accord avec l’hypothèse d’ERASMUS, les résultats ont montré des effets de tailles moyennes à grandes sur l’amplitude des saccades, le temps moyen passé sur les aéronefs et sur la distribution de l’attention allouée à la scène visuelle. De plus, sans ERASMUS, l’augmentation de la densité du trafic a augmenté de manière significative les diamètres pupillaires. A l’opposé, quand ERASMUS est actif, l’intensification du trafic n’a pas impacté significativement les diamètres pupillaires. Nous discutons l’impact d’ERASMUS sur la charge mentale ainsi que l’utilisation des mesures oculométriques dans un environnement de simulation écologique de contrôle aérien

Evaluation of an Automated Conflict Solver, ERASMUS : the contribution of eye-tracking as mental workload measurement on en-route air traffic controllers

Le contrôle aérien doit faire face à une forte intensification du trafic aérien. Dans cette situation, la problématique de la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens est une préoccupation majeure pour maintenir le niveau de sécurité actuel. Le système d’aide automatisé ERASMUS a été élaboré afin de réduire la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens. L’objectif d’ERASMUS est de compenser les effets liés à l’intensification du trafic en réduisant de manière subliminale la charge mentale associée à l’augmentation des conflits potentiels. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de proposer pour la première fois une mesure objective de l’impact du système d’aide ERASMUS sur la charge mentale des contrôleurs aériens. La réalisation de cet objectif a nécessité le développement d’une plateforme originale d’enregistrement et de traitement des mouvements oculaires non intrusive dans un environnement de simulation hautement fidèle. Les mouvements oculaires d’un groupe de contrôleurs aériens experts ont été enregistrés. En accord avec l’hypothèse d’ERASMUS, les résultats ont montré des effets de tailles moyennes à grandes sur l’amplitude des saccades, le temps moyen passé sur les aéronefs et sur la distribution de l’attention allouée à la scène visuelle. De plus, sans ERASMUS, l’augmentation de la densité du trafic a augmenté de manière significative les diamètres pupillaires. A l’opposé, quand ERASMUS est actif, l’intensification du trafic n’a pas impacté significativement les diamètres pupillaires. Nous discutons l’impact d’ERASMUS sur la charge mentale ainsi que l’utilisation des mesures oculométriques dans un environnement de simulation écologique de contrôle aérien.Air Traffic Control has to handle the strong and constant increase in air traffic density. In this context, mental workload experienced by air traffic controllers is a key research concept to maintain the actual safety level. ERASMUS is an automated aid system designed to reduce air traffic controllers’ workload. The purpose of ERASMUS is to compensate the effects of the air traffic growth by reducing the increased mental workload associated with a greater number of potential conflicts. Prior experiments designed to validate the ERASMUS system showed a reduction in ratings of mental workload, but only subjectives measures were used. In the present thesis, the first goal is to complete these first results by providing, for the first time, a real time objective measure of controllers’ mental workload. In this purpose, we had to develop a new non-intrusive eye-tracking platform in a fully realistic simulation environment. The eye movements of seven controllers, placed in a high-fidelity simulation, were recorded. Traffic sequences were manipulated (with vs. without ERASMUS). Consistent with a reduced workload hypothesis, results showed medium to large effects of ERASMUS on the amplitude of saccades, on the time spent gazing aircraft, and on the distribution of attention over the visual scene. Moreover, without ERASMUS, growth in the traffic density significantly increased pupil diameters. In contrast, when ERASMUS was activated, traffic density growth did not impact significantly pupil diameters. Finally, we discuss the impact of ERASMUS on mental workload and the use of pupillometric measures in an ecological air traffic control environment

Évaluation d'un système de résolution de conflits, ERASMUS (apport de l'oculométrie comme mesure de la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens en-route)

Le contrôle aérien doit faire face à une forte intensification du trafic aérien. Dans cette situation, la problématique de la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens est une préoccupation majeure pour maintenir le niveau de sécurité actuel. Le système d aide automatisé ERASMUS a été élaboré afin de réduire la charge mentale chez les contrôleurs aériens. L objectif d ERASMUS est de compenser les effets liés à l intensification du trafic en réduisant de manière subliminale la charge mentale associée à l augmentation des conflits potentiels. L objectif principal de cette thèse est de proposer pour la première fois une mesure objective de l impact du système d aide ERASMUS sur la charge mentale des contrôleurs aériens. La réalisation de cet objectif a nécessité le développement d une plateforme originale d enregistrement et de traitement des mouvements oculaires non intrusive dans un environnement de simulation hautement fidèle. Les mouvements oculaires d un groupe de contrôleurs aériens experts ont été enregistrés. En accord avec l hypothèse d ERASMUS, les résultats ont montré des effets de tailles moyennes à grandes sur l amplitude des saccades, le temps moyen passé sur les aéronefs et sur la distribution de l attention allouée à la scène visuelle. De plus, sans ERASMUS, l augmentation de la densité du trafic a augmenté de manière significative les diamètres pupillaires. A l opposé, quand ERASMUS est actif, l intensification du trafic n a pas impacté significativement les diamètres pupillaires. Nous discutons l impact d ERASMUS sur la charge mentale ainsi que l utilisation des mesures oculométriques dans un environnement de simulation écologique de contrôle aérien.Air Traffic Control has to handle the strong and constant increase in air traffic density. In this context, mental workload experienced by air traffic controllers is a key research concept to maintain the actual safety level. ERASMUS is an automated aid system designed to reduce air traffic controllers workload. The purpose of ERASMUS is to compensate the effects of the air traffic growth by reducing the increased mental workload associated with a greater number of potential conflicts. Prior experiments designed to validate the ERASMUS system showed a reduction in ratings of mental workload, but only subjectives measures were used. In the present thesis, the first goal is to complete these first results by providing, for the first time, a real time objective measure of controllers mental workload. In this purpose, we had to develop a new non-intrusive eye-tracking platform in a fully realistic simulation environment. The eye movements of seven controllers, placed in a high-fidelity simulation, were recorded. Traffic sequences were manipulated (with vs. without ERASMUS). Consistent with a reduced workload hypothesis, results showed medium to large effects of ERASMUS on the amplitude of saccades, on the time spent gazing aircraft, and on the distribution of attention over the visual scene. Moreover, without ERASMUS, growth in the traffic density significantly increased pupil diameters. In contrast, when ERASMUS was activated, traffic density growth did not impact significantly pupil diameters. Finally, we discuss the impact of ERASMUS on mental workload and the use of pupillometric measures in an ecological air traffic control environment.TOULOUSE2-SCD-Bib. electronique (315559903) / SudocSudocFranceF

How do novice and expert drivers prepare for takeover when they are drivengers of a level 3 autonomous vehicle? Investigation of their visual behaviour

In the very near future, cars will be in autonomous mode most of the time, allowing drivengers (i.e., users of Level 3 automated vehicles) to do what they want until a system inoperability. This implies for the drivenger to disengage from a NDRT (Non-Driving-Related Task) to engage in the driving task within a limited time interval. This takeover period has given rise to a great deal of concern, as studies have highlighted a lack of ability to safely resume the driving activity. In addition, the increase in automation is predicted to be accompanied by a reduction in driving skills and experience. The present study looked at how drivengers prepare for takeover according to their level of driving experience. A group of drivengers (n = 25) were told to watch a movie during a 30-minute autonomous driving phase and prepare for takeover during the 18 seconds of a takeover request. A group of drivers (n = 29) performed the same drive in manual driving mode without any NDRT. We focused on the amount of attention the drivengers allocated to the resumption of the driving task versus the continuation of the NDRT, by investigating their visual behaviour between the start of the takeover request and the system being deactivated. We also evaluated their mental workload via their pupil size. We compared their eye-tracking data with those of the drivers in the non-autonomous condition. Results indicated poorer visual behaviour among drivengers than among drivers. The novice drivengers’ visual behaviour was the most impaired during this critical period. There was also a tendency for drivengers to experience greater mental workload than drivers during the takeover period. These results suggest that drivengers do not have sufficient attentional capacity to cope with the high demand imposed by the takeover, particularly when they are inexperienced

Effects of an Automated Conflict Solver on the Visual Activity of Air Traffic Controllers

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Listening to high tempo music behind the wheel : How the experienced emotions associated to music influences driving behavior ?

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Toward the Use of Pupillary Responses for Pilot Selection

International audienceTask-induced mental workload of pilot students was assessed at the beginning of their training on a laboratory task. Their two year flight training outcome was associated with characteristic pupil size variations, discriminating the most and less proficient students. Results could be interpreted in line with the neural efficiency hypothesis

Selective facilitation of egocentric mental transformations under short-term microgravity

International audienceUnderstanding the impact of microgravity on human cognitive performance is crucial to guarantee the safety and success of future long-term manned missions. The effects of weightlessness on key mental processes such as spatial abilities are in particular not fully characterized. In this study, we examine the influence of microgravity on perspective-taking abilities-a type of mental operation especially relevant in the context of collaborative teamwork between 'free-floating' astronauts. Twelve subjects performed a cooperative task in virtual-reality under both normal and short-term microgravity conditions during a parabolic flight. The task involved various degrees of mental transformations, and required subjects to perform actions instructed by a fellow astronaut aboard a virtual spacecraft. The experimental design allowed us to control for nuisance variables, training effects, and non-gravity related factors of parabolic flights. Overall, our results indicated that microgravity has a facilitatory effect on perspective-taking abilities. Notably, this facilitation was selective to conditions requiring subjects to rotate their perspective around their line of sight, i.e., for mental rotations in the frontal plane. Moreover, microgravity affected subjects differently depending on their visual field dependence, as determined via a classic rod-and-frame test. Specifically, improvement in performance was more pronounced in fieldindependent subjects. Together, these results shed light on a long standing debate about the impact of microgravity on egocentric mental imagery, and have direct operational consequences for future long-term missions