PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY AND ADAPTIVE AUTOMATION

Adaptive automation is an approach to automation design where tasks ar e dynamically allocated between the human operator and computer system s. Psychophysiology has two complementary roles in research on adaptiv e automation: first, to provide information about the effects of diffe rent forms of automation thus promoting the development of effective a daptive logic; and second, psychophysiology may yield information abou t the operator that can be integrated with performance measurement and operator modelling to aid in the regulation of automation. This revie w discusses the basic tenets of adaptive automation and the role of ps ychophysiological measures in the study of adaptive automation. Empiri cal results from studies of flight simulation are presented. Psychophy siological measures may prove especially useful in the prevention of p erformance deterioration in underload conditions that may accompany au tomation. Individual differences and the potential for learned respons es require research to understand their influence on adaptive algorith ms. Adaptive automation represents a unique domain for the application of psychophysiology in the work environment.