Astronauts often report experiences of awe and wonder while traveling in space. This paper addresses the question of whether awe and wonder can be scientifically investigated in a simulated space travel scenario using a neurophenomenological method. To answer this question, we created a mixed-reality simulation similar to the environment of the International Space Station. Portals opened to display simulations of Earth or Deep Space. However, the challenge still remained of how to best capture the resulting experience of participants. We could use psychological methods, neuroscientific methods or philosophical methods. Each of these approaches offer many benefits, but each is also limited. Neurophenomenology capitalises on and integrates all three methods. We employed questionnaires from psychology, electroencephalography, electrocardiography, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy from neuroscience, and a phenomenological interview technique from philosophy. This neurophenomenological method enabled extensive insight in experiencers and non-experiencers of awe and wonder (AW) in a simulated space scenario that otherwise would not have been possible. Traditional empirical analyses were completed, followed by individual differences analyses using interview transcriptions paired with physiological responses. Experiencers of AW showed differences in theta and beta activity throughout the brain compared to non-experiencers. Questionnaires indicated that non-experiencers of AW gave more positive responses of religious and spiritual practices than experiencers of AW. Interviews showed that awe and wonder were more likely to occur when watching the simulated Earth view instead of the Deep Space view. Our study is a successful example of neurophenomenology, a powerful and promising interdisciplinary approach for future studies of complex states of experience. BackgroundHouston, we are ready for launch. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Lift-off! Reading this sequence brings to mind a variety of feelings or experiences. However, research

Astronauts report certain experiences that can be classified as awe and wonder when looking out of their space station or shuttle portals at two different stimuli: the earth and deep space. Based on these reports, it was of interest to further investigate those types of experiences by using a mixed-reality environment resembling an International Space Station workstation designed to expose subjects to simulated stimuli of the earth and deep space. The study is multidisciplinary, involving simulation construction, physiological assessment, psychological testing, textual analysis, and phenomenological interviews. The goal was to induce in the average person the experiences and responses of the astronauts. Preliminary results show promise for using a virtual/mixed-reality environment in a laboratory when assessing cognitive/affective experiences, such as awe and wonder, found in a real-world context ?? 2014 Taylor & Francis

Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) operators complete multiple types of tasks within Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs). Due to the potential serious consequences of committing an error, it is important to determine if the workload (WL) demands operators encounter are at acceptable levels. This study investigates whether there are workload differences are distinct between task types and if there is a difference between each task type over multiple sessions in a simulated environment. Previous research supports that EEG, ECG, and the NASA-TLX are sensitive to changes in WL. The present preliminary experiment sought to investigate WL changes for experienced participants over a number of sessions and task types. During each session, participants completed tasks derived from a combination of EOPs and subject matter expert input that consisted of checking, detection, and response implementation task types. WL changes were measured through EEG, ECG, and NASA-TLX responses. The results indicate that WL differences were found among the different task types, but not sessions. The implications for these findings are discussed in detail.

Distracted driving is becoming more prevalent as automobile use is commonplace and technology use grows in pervasiveness. The present study investigated the impact of cell phone, touch MP3, and external environmental distractions on commercial truck driving performance. Commercial truck drivers' performance and physiological responses were monitored while they drove a simulated cab through various control and distraction scenarios. The results support previous findings that distractions, particularly the phone and touch MP3, reduce driving performance and increase cognitive resource allocation in truck drivers.

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