Report on Neuroergonomics Paper

The topic of Neuroergonomics has been introduced in the paper (Raja Parasuraman, 2003) with a detailed description of its characteristics and scope. The history of neuroergonomics along with the conceptual issues at the core of neuroergonomics is discussed in the paper. Some examples of neuroergonomics were provided to exemplify the ideas given in the paper. The paper aims to provide specific information about neuroergonomics and its uses to the user and to give examples of future research in neuroergonomics such as Adaptive Systems, Human Error, Learning and Skill Acquisition, etc.

As the article is aimed at generating awareness for Neuroergonomics, the author first defines neuroergonomics and then goes on to explain neuroscience and ergonomics in detail. He says that Neuroergonomics is related to both the brain and human s at work (Parasuraman 1998a). The author’s method of defining the new field, citing relevant history and then explaining some of the applications of the new field is a good approach to introducing the subject to a novice. It deals with the neural bases involved in cognitive functions such as sight, hearing, attending, remembering, and physical activities such as grasping moving, etc. He explains that Neuroergonomics has monetary benefits aassociated with the design of the working conditions. Neuroergonomics has two major goals, to use existing and emerging knowledge of human performance and brain function to design technologies and work environments for safer and more efficient operation and to advance the understanding of human brain function (Parasuraman, 2003). Any system that interacts directly with humans, due to its complexity may lead to increasing the human workload. A neuroergonomic approach may provide sensitive evaluation of any impact on human performance. Delving into history, the author comments that traditionally, ergonomics has not given attention to the working of the human brain and for its part, neuroscience has never found any real world applications to the laboratory research. The two fields have developed independently.

Neuroscience was ignored for a long time as the relation between neural structure and the actual working of the brain was not given emphasis. It is now known that neural structure affects brain function. It is believed that humans and systems constitute a joint cognitive system. Relevance to the works of (Piaget, 1952), (Clark, 1997) are given to connect neuroscience and ergonomics. As neuroergonomics is a relatively new topic, a coherent body of concepts and empirical evidence is missing from its collection of works. Micro-theories may be adapted to specific cases, but cannot be generalized.

The author then delves into specifics about neuroergonomics. Physiological measures are still the most common methods of measuring brain function. Electroencephalogram (EEG), Magentoencephalography (MEG), Event Related Brain potentials (ERPs), Positron Emission Tomography (PET)