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de Freitas ÂM, Wetters Portuguez M, Russomano T, da Costa JC. Air Traffic Controllers and Executive Brain Function. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2022; 93:426-432. [PMID: 35551719 DOI: 10.3357/amhp.5757.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the executive functions of air traffic controllers (ATCs) in relation to demographic and occupational characteristics such as length of service, technical qualifications, and work shifts.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on a convenience sample with sequential selection of 52 Brazilian ATCs using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), questionnaire applied to the ATCs, Student's t-test, and one-way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey multiple comparisons of WCST with functional characteristics.RESULTS: ATCs with 0 to 5 yr of service presented scores significantly above the cohort average in the WCST [0-5 yr: 0.54 ± 0.01 vs. 6-15 yr: 0.31 ± 0.52 vs. 151 yr: -0.02 ± 0.80]. ATCs working a 3-shift pattern presented an efficient performance and fewer perseverative errors in the WCST (3-shift: -0.63 ± 0.38 vs. 4-shift: -0.45 ± 0.43), that did not rise to significance. In a comparison between executive brain functions and technical qualifications, the controllers who worked in the TWR (Aerodrome Control Tower) only, and those who worked in both the TWR and APP (Approach Control Service) showed no differences in the number of completed categories and in perseverative errors.DISCUSSION:The executive brain functioning of the ATCs, such as mental flexibility, strategic planning and inhibitory control, were identified as being above average when compared to the general population. While alterations in work shifts appear to have a negative (but nonsignificant) impact, newer ATCs showed stronger scores than more experienced ATCs on the WCST. Successful performance as an ATC has complex foundations, such as understanding the context of air navigation and having strong executive function capabilities.de Freitas AM, Portuguez MW, Russomano, T, da Costa JC. Air traffic controllers and executive brain function. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(5):426-432.
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Smithies TD, Toth AJ, Dunican IC, Caldwell JA, Kowal M, Campbell MJ. The effect of sleep restriction on cognitive performance in elite cognitive performers: a systematic review. Sleep 2021; 44:zsab008. [PMID: 33438751 PMCID: PMC8271199 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsab008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To synthesize original articles exploring the effects of sleep restriction on cognitive performance specifically for Elite Cognitive Performers, i.e. those who engage in cognitively demanding tasks with critical or safety-critical outcomes in their occupation or area of expertise. METHODS Backward snowballing techniques, gray literature searches, and traditional database searches (Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PSYCinfo, and SportDiscus) were used to obtain relevant articles. A quality assessment was performed, and the risk of training effects was considered. Results were narratively synthesized. Fourteen articles fit the criteria. Cognitive outcomes were divided into three categories defined by whether cognitive demands were "low-salience," "high-salience stable," or "high-salience flexible." RESULTS Low-salience tests (i.e. psychomotor vigilance tasks & serial reaction tests), mainly requiring vigilance and rudimentary attentional capacities, were sensitive to sleep restriction, however, this did not necessarily translate to significant performance deficits on low-salience occupation-specific task performance. High-salience cognitive outcomes were typically unaffected unless when cognitive flexibility was required. CONCLUSIONS Sleep restriction is of particular concern to occupations whereby individuals perform (1) simple, low-salience tasks or (2) high-salience tasks with demands on the flexible allocation of attention and working memory, with critical or safety-critical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim D Smithies
- Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
- Lero, the SFI Centre for Software Research, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Adam J Toth
- Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
- Lero, the SFI Centre for Software Research, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ian C Dunican
- Melius Consulting, Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Sleep Science, School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Magdalena Kowal
- Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
- Lero, the SFI Centre for Software Research, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Mark J Campbell
- Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
- Lero, the SFI Centre for Software Research, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
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Briscoe J, Gilchrist ID. Proactive and reactive control mechanisms in navigational search. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2020; 75:348-361. [PMID: 32988298 PMCID: PMC8721537 DOI: 10.1177/1747021820958923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Reactive and proactive cognitive control are fundamental for guiding complex human behaviour. In two experiments, we evaluated the role of both types of cognitive control in navigational search. Participants searched for a single hidden target in a floor array where the salience at the search locations varied (flashing or static lights). An a-priori rule of the probable location of the target (either under a static or a flashing light) was provided at the start of each experiment. Both experiments demonstrated a bias towards rule-adherent locations. Search errors, measured as revisits, were more likely to occur under the flashing rule for searching flashing locations, regardless of the salience of target location in Experiment 1 and at rule-congruent (flashing) locations in Experiment 2. Consistent with dual mechanisms of control, rule-adherent search was explained by engaging proactive control to guide goal-maintained search behaviour and by engaging reactive control to avoid revisits to salient (flashing) locations. Experiment 2 provided direct evidence for dual mechanisms of control using a Dot Pattern Expectancy task to distinguish the dominant control mode for a participant. Participants with a reactive control mode generated more revisits to salient (flashing) locations. These data point to complementary roles for proactive and reactive control in guiding navigational search and propose a novel framework for interpreting navigational search.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie Briscoe
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Iain D Gilchrist
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Murphy JP, Kurland L, Rådestad M, Rüter A. Hospital incident command groups' performance during major incident simulations: a prospective observational study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2020; 28:73. [PMID: 32727519 PMCID: PMC7389443 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-020-00763-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital incident command groups' (HICG) performance may have a profound impact on hospital response to major incidents. Previous research has assessed hospital incident command group capacity as opposed to performance and factors associated to performance. The objective was to assess associations between decision-making and staff procedure skills of the hospital incident command group. METHODS This was a prospective observational study using performance indicators to assess hospital incident command groups' decision-making and performance. A total of six hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden, with their respective HICGs participated. Associations between decision-making skills and staff procedure skills during major incident simulations were assessed using measurable performance indicators. RESULTS Decision-making skills are correlated to staff procedure skills and overall HICG performance. Proactive decision-making skills had significantly lower means than reactive decision-making skills and are significantly correlated to staff procedure skills. CONCLUSION There is a significant correlation between decision-making skills and staff procedural skills. Hospital incident command groups' proactive decision-making abilities tended to be less developed than reactive decision-making abilities. These proactive decision-making skills may be a predictive factor for overall hospital incident command group performance. A lack of proactive decision-making ability may hamper efforts to mitigate the effects of a major incident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Murphy
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Insititutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Sophiahemmet University, PO Box 5605, SE-11486, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Lisa Kurland
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Insititutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Monica Rådestad
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Insititutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Rüter
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Insititutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Sophiahemmet University, PO Box 5605, SE-11486, Stockholm, Sweden
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Paying attention to speech: The role of working memory capacity and professional experience. Atten Percept Psychophys 2020; 82:3594-3605. [PMID: 32676806 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-020-02091-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Managing attention in multispeaker environments is a challenging feat that is critical for human performance. However, why some people are better than others in allocating attention appropriately remains highly unknown. Here, we investigated the contribution of two factors-working memory capacity (WMC) and professional experience-to performance on two different types of attention task: selective attention to one speaker and distributed attention among multiple concurrent speakers. We compared performance across three groups: individuals with low (n = 20) and high (n = 25) WMC, and aircraft pilots (n = 24), whose profession poses extremely high demands for both selective and distributed attention to speech. Results suggests that selective attention is highly effective, with good performance maintained under increasingly adverse conditions, whereas performance decreases substantially with the requirement to distribute attention among a larger number of speakers. Importantly, both types of attention benefit from higher WMC, suggesting reliance on some common capacity-limited resources. However, only selective attention was further improved in the pilots, pointing to its flexible and trainable nature, whereas distributed attention seems to suffer from more fixed and severe processing bottlenecks.
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Colzato LS, Steenbergen L, Hommel B. Rumination impairs the control of stimulus-induced retrieval of irrelevant information, but not attention, control, or response selection in general. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2020; 84:204-216. [PMID: 29362887 PMCID: PMC6994548 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-018-0986-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to throw more light on the relationship between rumination and cognitive-control processes. Seventy-eight adults were assessed with respect to rumination tendencies by means of the LEIDS-r before performing a Stroop task, an event-file task assessing the automatic retrieval of irrelevant information, an attentional set-shifting task, and the Attentional Network Task, which provided scores for alerting, orienting, and executive control functioning. The size of the Stroop effect and irrelevant retrieval in the event-five task were positively correlated with the tendency to ruminate, while all other scores did not correlate with any rumination scale. Controlling for depressive tendencies eliminated the Stroop-related finding (an observation that may account for previous failures to replicate), but not the event-file finding. Taken altogether, our results suggest that rumination does not affect attention, executive control, or response selection in general, but rather selectively impairs the control of stimulus-induced retrieval of irrelevant information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza S Colzato
- Cognitive Psychology Unit and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- Institute for Sports and Sport Science, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University Institute for Psychological Research, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Laura Steenbergen
- Cognitive Psychology Unit and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Psychology Unit and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Ferdinand NK, Czernochowski D. Motivational Influences on Performance Monitoring and Cognitive Control Across the Adult Lifespan. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1018. [PMID: 29997541 PMCID: PMC6028708 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control refers to the ability to regulate cognitive processing according to the tasks at hand, especially when these are demanding. It includes maintaining and updating relevant information in working memory, inhibiting irrelevant information, and flexibly switching between tasks. Performance monitoring denotes the processing of feedback from the environment and the detection of errors or other unexpected events and signals when cognitive control needs to be exerted. These two aspects of behavioral adaptation critically rely on the integrity of the frontal lobes, which are known to show pronounced age-related performance decrements. By contrast, there is evidence that processing of rewards remains relatively intact across the adult lifespan. Hence, motivation may play an important role in modulating or even counteracting age-related changes in cognitive control functions. To answer this question, neuroscientific data can be particularly useful to uncover potential underlying mechanisms beyond behavioral outcome. The aims of this article are twofold: First, to review and systematize the extant literature on how motivational incentives can modulate performance monitoring and cognitive control in young and older adults. Second, to demonstrate that important pieces of empirical data are currently missing for the evaluation of this central question, specifically in old age. Hence, we would like to stimulate further research uncovering potential mechanisms underlying motivation-cognition interactions in young and in particular in older adults and investigating whether or not those can help to ameliorate age-related impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Czernochowski
- Center for Cognitive Science, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Visalli A, Vallesi A. Monitoring Processes in Visual Search Enhanced by Professional Experience: The Case of Orange Quality-Control Workers. Front Psychol 2018; 9:145. [PMID: 29497392 PMCID: PMC5819562 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual search tasks have often been used to investigate how cognitive processes change with expertise. Several studies have shown visual experts' advantages in detecting objects related to their expertise. Here, we tried to extend these findings by investigating whether professional search experience could boost top-down monitoring processes involved in visual search, independently of advantages specific to objects of expertise. To this aim, we recruited a group of quality-control workers employed in citrus farms. Given the specific features of this type of job, we expected that the extensive employment of monitoring mechanisms during orange selection could enhance these mechanisms even in search situations in which orange-related expertise is not suitable. To test this hypothesis, we compared performance of our experimental group and of a well-matched control group on a computerized visual search task. In one block the target was an orange (expertise target) while in the other block the target was a Smurfette doll (neutral target). The a priori hypothesis was to find an advantage for quality-controllers in those situations in which monitoring was especially involved, that is, when deciding the presence/absence of the target required a more extensive inspection of the search array. Results were consistent with our hypothesis. Quality-controllers were faster in those conditions that extensively required monitoring processes, specifically, the Smurfette-present and both target-absent conditions. No differences emerged in the orange-present condition, which resulted to mainly rely on bottom-up processes. These results suggest that top-down processes in visual search can be enhanced through immersive real-life experience beyond visual expertise advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.,San Camillo Hospital IRCCS, Venice, Italy
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Villar ACNWB, Pereira LD. Auditory skills of figure-ground and closure in air traffic controllers. Codas 2017; 29:e20160201. [PMID: 29211111 DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20172016201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the auditory skills of closure and figure-ground and factors associated with health, communication, and attention in air traffic controllers, and compare these variables with those of other civil and military servants. METHODS Study participants were sixty adults with normal audiometric thresholds divided into two groups matched for age and gender: study group (SG), comprising 30 air traffic controllers and control group (CG), composed of 30 other military and civil servants. All participants were asked a number of questions regarding their health, communication, and attention, and underwent the Speech-in-Noise Test (SIN) to assess their closure skills and the Synthetic Sentence Identification Test - Ipsilateral Competitive Message (SSI-ICM) in monotic listening to evaluate their figure-ground abilities. Data were compared using nonparametric statistical tests and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS More individuals in the SG reported fatigue and/or burnout and work-related stress and showed better performance than that of individuals in the CG for the figure-ground ability. Both groups performed similarly and satisfactorily in the other hearing tests. The odds ratio for participants belonging in the SG was 5.59 and 1.24 times regarding work-related stress and SSI-ICM (right ear), respectively. CONCLUSION Results for the variables auditory closure, self-reported health, attention, and communication were similar in both groups. The SG presented significantly better performance in auditory figure-ground compared with that of the CG. Self-reported stress and right-ear SSI-ICM were significant predictors of individuals belonging to the SG.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liliane Desgualdo Pereira
- Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brasil
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Behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of cognitive control in ex-obese adults. Biol Psychol 2017; 127:198-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Babcock L, Capizzi M, Arbula S, Vallesi A. Short-Term Memory Improvement After Simultaneous Interpretation Training. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2017; 1:254-267. [PMID: 32226920 PMCID: PMC7089711 DOI: 10.1007/s41465-017-0011-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simultaneous interpretation (SI) is a cognitively demanding process that has been associated with enhanced memory and executive functions. It is unclear, however, if the previously evidenced interpreter advantages are developed through training and/or experience with SI or rather represent inherent characteristics that allow success in the field. The present study aimed to disentangle these possibilities through a longitudinal examination of students earning a Master of Conference Interpreting and two control populations. The students were tested at the beginning and end of their programs on measures of memory and executive functioning that have previously demonstrated an interpreter advantage. The results revealed no inherent advantage among the students of interpretation. However, an SI training-specific advantage was revealed in verbal short-term memory; the students of interpretation, but not the two control groups, showed a gain between the testing sessions. This controlled longitudinal study demonstrates that training in simultaneous interpretation is associated with cognitive changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Babcock
- 1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.,2Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Capizzi
- 2Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Sandra Arbula
- 2Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- 2Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padova, Italy.,3Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo, IRCCS, via Alberoni 70, 30126 Lido-Venice, Italy
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