The effect of task load on the occurrence of cognitive lockup in a high-fidelity flight simulator

Motivation To analyse human errors and determine the underlying reason for these errors, in particular by investigating the error production mechanism cognitive lockup. Research approach A within subjects experiment has been conducted with 16 pilots in a high-fidelity and realistic environment. The independent variables were the cognitive task load factors time pressure and number of tasks, and the task variable task completion. In addition, the pilots rated the effort it took them to handle the tasks. To evaluate whether cognitive lockup occurred, the time it took the pilots to start handling a new, high-priority task was measured. Findings/Design The results suggest that the cognitive task load factors, and the effort they induce in the pilots when executing the task, increase the likelihood of the occurrence of cognitive lockup. Research limitations/Implications Investigating cognitive lockup empirically is limited, as it is a phenomenon rarely observable. Originality/Value The research makes a contribution to understanding why pilots deviate from normative behaviour and with this to make it possible to improve the safety of operations on aircrafts. Take away message The error production mechanism cognitive lockup might partially be explained by a high cognitive task load, produced by time pressure and a high number of tasks