Putting the brain to work: neuroergonomics past, present, and future.
OBJECTIVE
The authors describe research and applications in prominent areas of neuroergonomics.


BACKGROUND
Because human factors/ergonomics examines behavior and mind at work, it should include the study of brain mechanisms underlying human performance.


METHODS
Neuroergonomic studies are reviewed in four areas: workload and vigilance, adaptive automation, neuroengineering, and molecular genetics and individual differences.


RESULTS
Neuroimaging studies have helped identify the components of mental workload, workload assessment in complex tasks, and resource depletion in vigilance. Furthermore, real-time neurocognitive assessment of workload can trigger adaptive automation. Neural measures can also drive brain-computer interfaces to provide disabled users new communication channels. Finally, variants of particular genes can be associated with individual differences in specific cognitive functions.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroergonomics shows that considering what makes work possible - the human brain - can enrich understanding of the use of technology by humans and can inform technological design.


CONCLUSIONS
Applications of neuroergonomics include the assessment of operator workload and vigilance, implementation of real-time adaptive automation, neuroengineering for people with disabilities, and design of selection and training methods.
Parasuraman
Raja
R
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444, USA. rparasur@gmu.edu
Wilson
Glenn F
GF
D003071:Cognition; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D012106:Research; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*