Game Changers in Training and Human Performance Research

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
Game Changers in Training and Human Performance Research

Speaker:
Kurtulus Izzetoglu, PhD
Associate Research Professor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Details:
The past two decades have seen the growing importance of technologies deployed in providing measures of cognitive functioning, as well as measures of stress or emotion in various settings in the field. From the fields of aerospace to healthcare, there are numerous unmet needs that can be addressed by properly adapting these technologies and methodologies. Quantitative assessment of joint human-system performance in manned and autonomous systems, designing training curriculums and scenarios derived from measures of expertise development through individual neural efficiency, and accelerated training supported by adaptive, neurophysiologically-informed simulators are just a few examples illustrating the potential role of these technologies. Regardless, we can safely say that the means to assess our neurophysiological state is rapidly becoming ubiquitous. However, as scientists this trend also provides us with an opportunity to now apply such technologies in more contextually real and dynamic environments.

Traditionally, behavioral measures and subjective metrics have been used to address cognitive factors associated with the operators of safety critical systems. However, the advancement in wearable technologies could provide additional performance metrics directly driven from brain-based measures, potentially validating subjective assessments and ultimately bringing us closer towards maintaining safe and effective performance. Furthermore, these techniques may also aid the design and evaluation of new technologies that are being presented as increasing operational capacity, efficiency, and safety across the aerospace or healthcare domain. The measurement of real-time neurophysiological changes can help evaluate decision making, and also reliably compare workload burden of next generation systems versus legacy systems in the various domains.

This presentation will discuss key cognitive areas of interest when attempting to explore the correlation between neurophysiological states, task load, and level of expertise changes. A number of studies will be introduced, whereby wearable systems, such as functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), are used to evaluate human performance. The potential advantages and challenges will also be discussed in relation to implementing such sensors in real operational settings.

Biosketch:
Kurtulus Izzetoglu, PhD, is a faculty member of the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, and the lead for Drexel University in the FAA’s two Centers of Excellence: Technical Training and Human Performance and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). He a has background in both electrical and biomedical engineering, coupled with experience in developing and adapting highly portable optical brain imaging systems for field use in applications ranging from medical to the aviation domain.

Dr. Izzetoglu's current research projects focus on the integration of biosensors for personalized training in safety critical tasks; brain-in-the-loop studies to improve human autonomy teaming, and training both in clinical (nurse, surgeon training) and in aviation (autonomous systems, UAS); effects of immersive VR manipulative interventions on learning; sensor and algorithm development for depth of anesthesia and sedation monitoring; sensor development for point-of-care monitoring in prolonged care in the field, including cerebral edema, local tissue oximetry and blood flow measures for hemorrhage assessment and management; and investigation of biomarkers for evaluation of cerebral vascular reactivity in traumatic brain injury.

Dr. Izzetoglu also serves on various boards and program committees, including the International Conference on Augmented Cognition / International Conference on Human–Computer Interaction; program committee member of the International Conference for Research in Air Transportation (2016 chair); and the International Symposium on Aviation Psychology. He also organized and chaired the annual meeting of the Center of Excellence for Technical Training & Human Performance in 2018.

Contact Information

Ken Barbee
215-895-1335
barbee@drexel.edu