Neumann David L
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
Ergonomics. 2002 Jun 20;45(8):583-602. doi: 10.1080/00140130210148546.
Previous research using punctuate reaction time and counting tasks has found that the startle eyeblink reflex is sensitive to attentional demands. The present experiment explored whether startle eyeblink is also modulated during a complex continuous task and is sensitive to different levels of mental workload. Participants (N = 14) performed a visual horizontal tracking task either alone (single-task condition) or in combination with a visual gauge monitoring task (multiple-task condition) for three minutes. On some task trials, the startle eyeblink reflex was elicited by a noise burst. Results showed that startle eyeblink was attenuated during both tasks and that the attenuation was greater during the multiple-task condition than during the single-task condition. Subjective ratings, endogenous eyeblink rate, heart period, and heart period variability provided convergent validity of the workload manipulations. The findings suggest that the startle eyeblink is sensitive to the workload demands associated with a continuous visual task. The application of startle eyeblink modulation as a workload metric and the possibility that it may be diagnostic of workload demands in different stimulus modalities is discussed.
以往使用点状反应时间和计数任务的研究发现，惊跳眨眼反射对注意力需求敏感。本实验探究了在复杂的连续任务中惊跳眨眼是否也会受到调节，以及是否对不同水平的心理负荷敏感。参与者（N = 14）单独执行视觉水平跟踪任务（单任务条件）或与视觉量表监测任务结合执行（多任务条件），持续三分钟。在一些任务试验中，通过突发噪声引发惊跳眨眼反射。结果表明，在两项任务中惊跳眨眼均减弱，且多任务条件下的减弱程度大于单任务条件。主观评分、内源性眨眼率、心动周期和心动周期变异性为负荷操作提供了收敛效度。研究结果表明，惊跳眨眼对与连续视觉任务相关的负荷需求敏感。讨论了将惊跳眨眼调节应用为负荷指标的可能性，以及它可能诊断不同刺激模式下负荷需求的可能性。
