Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the effects of mental workload variations, as a function of the road environment, on the brain activity of army drivers performing combat and non-combat scenarios in a light multirole vehicle dynamic simulator. Forty-one non-commissioned officers completed three standardized driving exercises with different terrain complexities (low, medium, and high) while we recorded their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. We focused on variations in the theta EEG power spectrum, a well-known index of mental workload. We also assessed performance and subjective ratings of task load. The theta EEG power spectrum in the frontal, temporal, and occipital areas were higher during the most complex scenarios. Performance (number of engine stops) and subjective data supported these findings. Our findings strengthen previous results found in civilians on the relationship between driver mental workload and the theta EEG power spectrum. This suggests that EEG activity can give relevant insight into mental workload variations in an objective, unbiased fashion, even during real training and/or operations. The continuous monitoring of the warfighter not only allows instantaneous detection of over/underload but also might provide online feedback to the system (either automated equipment or the crew) to take countermeasures and prevent fatal errors.
Highlights
The armed forces represent one of the most dangerous and challenging operational systems, especially during warfare
The performance was significantly worse for the Afghanistan scenario (medium complexity, mean number of engine stops (M stops Afghanistan ) = 0.41) than for the Mali scenario
After Bonferroni correction, ratings of task load were higher for the Afghanistan scenario (mean NASA-TLX score (M NASA-TLX Afghanistan ) = 46.05) than for the outdoor test course circuit scenario (M NASA-TLX circuit = 35.62)
Summary
The armed forces represent one of the most dangerous and challenging operational systems, especially during warfare. The physiological and psychological demands of warfare are extreme and, for warfighters, are often overwhelming [1,2,3]. As operator resources are limited [4], circumstances that demand extra resources, either physical or mental, may increase the workload and, compromise operational safety [5,6]. To reduce the physical workload, the old mechanical systems, characterized by “hand and foot” controls, have been replaced by modern, highly automatized combat platforms and advanced information systems [9,10]. To prevent an excessive mental workload, the armed forces doctrine has introduced long and extenuating trainings, aimed at enhancing procedural and high-order cognitive skills [11,12,13,14,15]
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