Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited Correlation between Expected Workload and EEG Indices of Cognitive Workload and Task Engagement

As a Human Computer Interaction (HCI) designer, it is important to understand the cognitive workload level (mental demand) of an operator while performing a task. A particular concern about operator workload stems from the increased potential for errors when cognitive workload gets too high. The Office of Naval Research Disruptive Technologies Opportunity Fund, is sponsoring research investigating using neurophysiological data to develop a more accurate measurement of cognitive workload than metrics currently available. As a part of this research effort, an HCI usability evaluation was conducted which involved having 9 Navy operators interact with a prototyped Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) while wearing several neurophysiological sensors. More specifically, fleet operators were asked to use the prototype to respond to system status and prompts. Their objective was to launch each of 32 missiles on time. Data from the evaluation were analyzed to identify the correlation between EEG-generated measures of cognitive workload, measures of predicted workload identified by Multimodal Information Design Support (MIDS) and an expert’s observed rating of the operator’s cognitive workload. Correlations of EEG based measures of cognitive workload averaged across all participants and the MIDS ‘standard ’ expected workload values (not customized for individuals) were statistically significant. However