Shining light on the learning brain: Estimating mental workload in a simulated flight task using opt

Accurately estimating cognitive workload is essential for adaptive learning in pilot training, allowing flight simulation tasks to be tailored to the pilot’s skill level. In this project, we investigate the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (f-NIRS) to measure cognitive workload in pilots during a simulated flight task. f-NIRS, a non-invasive brain imaging technique, monitors changes in blood oxygenation in the cerebral cortex. Participants performed a series of flight maneuvers varying in complexity, whilst f-NIRS, breathing, and electrocardiography (ECG) signals were measured. Workload levels were quantified using both objective (task performance metrics) and subjective (self-reported workload) measures. To predict objective workload levels from the f-NIRS signals, we discarded noisy signals, extracted useful features from the signals, and fed these to machine learning predictors. Our predictor performs mental workload estimation in an objective and subject-independent manner. Ultimately, we demonstrate the viability of fNIRS as a tool for real-time workload monitoring in aviation, with a potential application in adaptive pilot training.

Speaker Details

Elisabeth Heremans was born in Leuven, Belgium on May 24th, 1996. She received a B.Sc. degree in Engineering (major: Computer Science) and a M.Sc. degree in Biomedical Engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium, in 2017 and 2019, respectively. She then performed a six-month research internship at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. In March 2020, she started working toward her Ph.D. degree in the STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics of the Electrical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, under the supervision of Prof. dr. Maarten De Vos. Elisabeth’s research interests include biomedical signal processing and machine learning, with a main focus on brain signals and applications in neuroscience.

Date:
Speakers:
Elisabeth Heremans
Affiliation:
KU Leuven

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