Exploring the Neural Correlates of Inattentional Deafness using Multimodal Brain Imaging

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Exploring the Neural Correlates of Inattentional Deafness using Multimodal Brain Imaging Daniel Callan1, 2* 1 Center for Information and Neural Networks, Japan 2 Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO), France The inability to perceive clearly audible audio alarms, alerting one to an impending hazardous situation, especially under high workload conditions, has been linked to several aviation related accidents. This lack of conscious awareness to audio alarms is called inattentional deafness. In this presentation I will review our multimodal brain imaging research using electroencephalography EEG, magnetoencephalography MEG, and functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI to investigate the neural processes underlying the phenomena of inattentional deafness as it relates to flight operations while piloting an airplane. Non-portable brain imaging modalities such as fMRI and MEG in conjunction with flight simulation paradigms are used to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution data underlying the neural processes of inattentional deafness. More portable brain recording equipment, such as EEG, is used in a fully immersive motion platform based flight simulation, incorporating head mounted display and force feedback flight controls, to better investigate neural processes underlying inattentional deafness in conditions representative of the real-world. This same EEG equipment is also used inflight in real airplanes to investigate brain activity associated with inattentional deafness in pilots under actual flight conditions. While high-resolution brain imaging can provide us with some of the answers it is often very difficult to simulate in the laboratory critical situations that have the same degree of implicit danger that occurs during operation of tasks in the real world. It is therefore necessary for increasingly more real world situations from motion platform based simulation to recording in real flight be used to have an understanding of relevant neural processes that can predict the occurrence of inattentional deafness in order to develop neuroergonomic based technology. Our fMRI results indicate that brain activity in regions involved with attentional bottleneck and selective attention are implicated with inattentional deafness. The fMRI results further show a decrease in functional connectivity from frontal attention related areas to auditory processing regions suggesting a potential dampening of auditory processing under conditions of focused attention to the visual motor flying task. The results of inflight EEG indicate that there is a disruption in phase synchrony of neural activity that is a neural signature of inattentional deafness. This disruption occurs in the theta and alpha frequency range (6 to 14 Hz) both around 100 ms prior to and after stimulus onset. The goal of this research is to utilize differing brain imaging modalities that vary with regards to degree of resolution and degree of real-world applicability to obtain a better understanding of the neural processes underlying inattentional deafness in actual flying conditions in order to develop neuroergonomic based technology that can be used as a countermeasure to enhance safety and performance. Acknowledgements This research was supported by the AXA Research Fund (“Neuroergonomics for flight safety” Chair program) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology NICT of Japan. Keywords: inattentional deafness, Attention, EEG, MEG, fMRI, Perception, auditory, inflight, Aviation Conference: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 27 Jun - 29 Jun, 2018. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Neuroergonomics Citation: Callan D (2019). Exploring the Neural Correlates of Inattentional Deafness using Multimodal Brain Imaging. Conference Abstract: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2018.227.00150 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 03 Apr 2018; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: PhD. Daniel Callan, Center for Information and Neural Networks, Osaka, Japan, dcallan@atr.jp Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Daniel Callan Google Daniel Callan Google Scholar Daniel Callan PubMed Daniel Callan Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.