Electrophysiological, behavioral, and subjective indexes of workload when performing multiple tasks: manipulations of task difficulty and training

Abstract

This study examined whether alpha event-related desynchronization (ERD) and theta event-related synchronization (ERS) could successfully measure changes in cognitive workload and training while an operator was engaged in a continuous, interactive, control task(s). Alpha 1 (8–10 Hz) ERD, alpha 2 (10–12 Hz) ERD, and theta (3–7 Hz) ERS were determined for a communications event that occurred during multiple task workload conditions or as a single task. Other measures (alpha and theta EEG power, heart rate, respiration, eye blinks, behavioral performance, and subjective workload ratings) were also evaluated. Results showed that alpha 2 EEG, heart rate, behavioral, and subjective measures were sensitive to changes in workload in the multiple tasks. In addition, eye blink rate and behavioral measures were sensitive to training. Alpha ERD and theta ERS were not sensitive to workload and training in our interactive, multiple task environment. However, they were effective indexes of cognitive/behavioral demands within an interactive single task.