Method for Characterizing and Identifying Task Evoked Pupillary Responses During Varying Workload Levels

Abstract

Understanding when operators are experiencing high workload is important in the design and implementation of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. Fortunately physiological metrics, such as pupillary reflexes, have been shown to correlate with increases in mental workload. This paper proposes an automated method for characterizing and identifying task evoked pupillary responses (TEPR) during various workload levels. This method captures findings and observations from previous TEPR studies in an automated algorithm. This algorithm characterizes the rate of pupil dilation and constriction into a TEPR area metric, which is then used to identify times of increased operator workload. Independent trial analysis shows the benefits of using the TEPR area for distinguishing different workload responses but additional investigation is needed to make the algorithm more robust to individual variability.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA607521

Entities

People

  • Allan Fong
  • Carryl Baldwin
  • Ciara Sibley
  • Joseph Coyne

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Cognitive Workload
  • Computers
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Human-Computer Interfaces
  • Human-Machine Interaction
  • Neural Networks
  • Psychology
  • Reflex
  • Simulations
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Vehicles
  • Workload

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control