Prospective Memory Failures in Aviation: Effects of Cue Salience, Workload, and Individual Differences

Abstract

Our findings suggest that technologies designed to signal intended future tasks should target those tasks with inherently low-salience memory cues. In addition, increasing the salience of memory cues is most likely to benefit pilots with lower levels of cognitive health in high-workload conditions.

The Superiority Effect of Virtual Reality on Prospective Memory

“…For example, research on radar signal detection found that 3D immersion allowed for multidimensional information to be analyzed better, when compared to 2D signals, because the information is presented in a way that is cohesive rather than presented as separate entities (Cantu et al, 2019). This study demonstrates the increased interest in utilizing VR superiority and technology to enhance visual tasks, although the task is not relevant to a typical general aviation task, the results do support that there may be some benefit in utilizing a 3D interface in order to manipulate cue presentation, that has previously been demonstrated (Dismukes 2010;Einstein & McDaniel 2004, Van Benthem, 2015 as a vital component in investigating how cue distinction and display may impact its saliency power.…”

“…The first possible explanation is that the VR environment may enhance perceptual triggers, and participants in a VR environment may free up mental resources in monitoring the environment, and therefore have greater mental resources to focus on time-keeping. This explanation is supported through previous work that demonstrates that workload may impact situational awareness and participants in high workload conditions, have been shown to have worse prospective memory performance (Van Benthem, 2015).…”

“…Third, given the multi-step process required for the procedural nature of the task list, there may not be a proper formation of the intent to perform the next necessary steps. For example, Van Benthem (2015), investigated how factors such as (memory cue salience and workload) and individual differences (pilot age, cognitive health, and expertise) impacted prospective memory for communication tasks in general aviation. There were 101 trained pilots flying a circuit and completing memory tasks while maintaining communication.…”

“…Given that previous research has demonstrated that increase workload demands may have an inverse effect on prospective memory (Van Benthem, 2015), one of the suggested methods of preventing prospective memory may be to reduce demands by implementing strategically organized data communication, checklists, warning systems, and alerting systems to keep track of tasks. Dismukes (2010), also suggests that following further research in prospective memory, educational initiatives may assist in making the individual aware when prospective memory failure are likely to occur and how to protect themselves.…”

Effects of Workload and Workload Transitions on Attention Allocation in a Dual-Task Environment: Evidence From Eye Tracking Metrics

“…High mental workload can cause significant performance decrements and breakdowns in attention allocation (Rouse et al, 1993). Preventing problems related to high workload is critical in complex, safety-sensitive domains, such as aviation, process control, driving, and medicine (e.g., Dixon et al, 2005, Van Benthem et al, 2015), where delays and errors due to high workload can have life-threatening consequences. The 1978 United Airlines DC-8 airplane crash in Portland, OR, for example, was linked to pilots’ high workload as they were trying to address issues with the landing gear (National Transportation Safety Board, 1978).…”