Accession Number:

ADA188323

Title:

Neurocognitive Predictions of Performance.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 24 Mar 84-23 Aug 87

Corporate Author:

EEG SYSTEMS LAB SAN FRANCISCO CA

Personal Author(s):

• Gevins, Alan S.

Report Date:

1987-09-25

Pagination or Media Count:

65.0

Abstract:

Our aim is to measure the functional neural networks responsible for human goal-directed behaviors. During the past three years we developed new methods for recording and analyzing the electrical activity of the brain while subjects perform simple cognitive tasks. We have sought to determine the feasibility of predicting decrements in performance associated with transient attentional lapses or operational fatigue. Using the method of Event-Related Covariance ERC analysis, we found distributed neural preparatory sets that predicted the accuracy of subsequent responses. In a second experiment on the effects of operational fatigue in U.S. Air Force test pilots, we found fatigue- related neuroelectric changes during cognitive processing that preceded appreciable degradations in performance. These results suggest the feasibility of on-line systems that warn of impaired performance due to prolonged mental work by persons engaged in critical or hazardous work.

Descriptors:

• *COGNITION
• *PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
• SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
• NEURAL NETS
• HAZARDS
• BRAIN
• PERFORMANCE(HUMAN)
• PROCESSING
• PARALLEL PROCESSING
• ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
• FEASIBILITY STUDIES
• PATTERN RECOGNITION
• BEHAVIOR
• NEUROLOGY
• MENTAL ABILITY
• ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY
• FATIGUE(PHYSIOLOGY)

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Anatomy and Physiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE