Gabriella M. Hancock

The Effect of Video Game Play on Performance in a Vigilance Task

Traditional vigilance research typically employs static stimuli presented in discrete trials within a highly structured laboratory setting with few similarities to operational environments. The current study employs a dynamic video game-based environment in which the vigilance task has crucial elements of real world detection tasks, in this case the detection of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The novel platform for this vigilance task and its similarity to popular video games on the market motivated the current study to compare performance between video game players (VGPs), to non-video game players (NVGPs). The results indicate that, relative to NVGPs, VGPs achieved improved performance on the vigilance task, regardless of whether they received training using knowledge of results (KR).

The Effect of Knowledge of Results for Training Vigilance in a Video Game-Based Environment

One of the greatest challenges facing military personnel deployed to combat zones is the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In spite of advances in IED detection technology, one of the best defenses against IEDs is the vigilant Soldier. The present study compares the vigilance performance of those who were provided knowledge of results (KR) during vigilance training, to those who did not have knowledge of results, using a video game-based vigilance task. KR was effective in improving vigilance, both during training and during a subsequent test phase in which no feedback was provided. These results indicate that video game-based methods may be useful for training sustained attention.

A critical examination of the research and theoretical underpinnings discussed in Thomson, Besner, and Smilek (2016).

Thomson, Besner, and Smilek (2016) propose that performance decrements associated with sustained attention are not consistently the result of a decline in perceptual sensitivity. Thomson et al. (2016) present empirical evidence using a novel, nontraditional vigilance task to support their assumptions. However, in the present rebuttal, we argue that the authors have not only have misinterpreted previous research in sustained attention, but also have misapplied those interpretations to their study. Thomson et al. have also neglected key elements of the literature in their argument, including research on expectancy theory and individual differences on vigilance performance. Furthermore, Thomson and colleagues implement an experimental paradigm that is not appropriate for evaluating sensitivity and bias changes in vigilance tasks. Finally, their analyses do not capture the manner in which changes in response bias and sensitivity can manifest in signal detection theory. We discuss the theoretical and experimental issues contained in Thomson et al. (2016) and propose suggestions for future vigilance research in this area.

Regulating emotions uniquely modifies reaction time, rate of force production, and accuracy of a goal-directed motor action

We investigated how emotion regulation (ER) strategies influence the execution of a memory guided, ballistic pinch grip. Participants (N=33) employed ER strategies (expressive suppression, emotional expression, and attentional deployment) while viewing emotional stimuli (IAPS images). Upon stimulus offset, participants produced a targeted pinch force aimed at 10% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Performance measures included reaction time (RT), rate of force production, and performance accuracy. As hypothesized, attentional deployment resulted in the slowest RT, largest rate of force production, and poorest performance accuracy. In contrast, expressive suppression reduced the rate of force production and increased performance accuracy relative to emotional expression and attentional deployment. Findings provide evidence that emotion regulation strategies uniquely influence human movement. Future work should further delineate the interacting role that emotion regulation strategies have in modulating both affective experience and motor performance.

Evaluating Vigilance in a Dynamic Environment: Methodological Issues and Proposals

Decades of vigilance research have contributed much to our understanding of the factors affecting sustained attention. However most of what we know about vigilance has been from studies employing tasks that involve relatively static stimuli presented on relatively uncluttered backgrounds. This bears little resemblance to many modern day vigilance tasks. The present study discusses the challenges and issues in applying the vigilance paradigm and methodology to a dynamic task requiring vigilance in an IED detection task.

Training for vigilance on the move: a video game-based paradigm for sustained attention

Abstract The capacity for superior vigilance can be trained by using knowledge of results (KR). Our present experiments demonstrate the efficacy of such training using a first-person perspective movement videogame-based platform in samples of students and Soldiers. Effectiveness was assessed by manipulating KR during a training phase and withdrawing it in a subsequent transfer phase. Relative to a no KR control condition, KR systematically improved performance for both Soldiers and students. These results build upon our previous findings that demonstrated that a video game-based platform can be used to create a movement-centred sustained attention task with important elements of traditional vigilance. The results indicate that KR effects in sustained attention extend to a first person perspective movement based paradigm, and that these effects occur in professional military as well as a more general population. Such sustained attention training can save lives and the present findings demonstrate one particular avenue to achieve this goal. Practitioner Summary: Sustained attention can be trained by means of knowledge of results using a videogame-based platform with samples of students and Soldiers. Four experiments demonstrate that a dynamic, first-person perspective video game environment can serve to support effective sustained attention training in professional military as well as a more general population.

The effects of age, sex, body temperature, heart rate, and time of day on the perception of time in life

The present article reports on the relationship between various, physiological and sociological factors on a person’s individual perception of time in life. Specifically, 200 participants (100 males, 100 females) were solicited from diverse, university-centered communities. These volunteers completed a series of questionnaire-based evaluations and also had physiological recordings of heart rate and core temperature taken. For the measure of time-in-life we used an amended version of the Lines test which compared the individual’s perception of their current time-in-life against the actuarial expectation of their lifespan. Results confirmed a strong inverse relationship between and individual’s age and this measure of perceived life duration. The gender of the individual had an important impact on their perceived lifespan. There were also indications of differences contingent upon the time of day at which the test was administered. However, there was little evidence of any linkage between lifespan perception and the physiological indicators recorded. The results are discussed in terms of possible cognitive and sociological determinants of individual’s perception of their present life location.

Action Video Game Players and Vigilance Performance

The current study used a video game-based vigilance task in which participants viewed a dynamic environment filled with objects and elements from a real-world environment. Participants were to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during a “patrol route” through a generic Afghanistan village. There was motivation to compare performance measures between participants who play video games and those who do not due to rising popularity in video game culture and the ubiquitous market on serious games as training platforms. Analysis reveals that action video game players (AVGPs) show significant advantages over non-video game players (NVGPs) as it relates to vigilance performance (i.e. proportion of correct detections, response time, false alarms, etc.). Additionally, workload analysis indicated AVGPs do find certain facets of the task to be demanding (Physical and Mental demand) but overall, AVGPs rate the task lower than NVGPs in terms of total or global perceived workload.

Can vigilance tasks be administered online? A replication and discussion.

Recently, experimental studies of vigilance have been deployed using online data collection methods. This data collection strategy is not new to the psychological sciences, but it is relatively new to basic research assessing vigilance performance, as studies in this area of research tend to collect data in the laboratory or in the field. The present study partially replicated the results of a newly developed online vigilance task (Thomson, Besner, & Smilek, 2016). A sample of 130 participants completed the semantic vigilance task created by Thomson et al. (2016) in a research laboratory setting. The present results replicated Thomson et al. (2016) when nonparametric and corrected signal detection measures were used. We suggest that some vigilance tasks typically performed in the laboratory could be administered online. However, we encourage researchers to consider the following factors prior to studying vigilance performance online: (a) the type of vigilance task, (b) the length of the vigilance task, and (c) the signal detection indices most appropriate for their research. It is quite possible that some analyses may yield significant results, whereas other signal detection measures may not (i.e., parametric indices vs. nonparametric indices vs. “corrected” indices) and this point is discussed further in our article.

Decomposing the Design of Time: Commentary on “On the Design of Time”

Time is a fundamental dimension of being that we all experience. Yet despite its critical importance to both theoretical and operational human factors concerns, due perhaps to its abstract and relative nature, Hancock (2018) argues that designers have not utilized time’s malleability to full effect. Although I appreciate the extended scope that Hancock’s assertions afford for designers to enhance productivity in experience-centered design, my major concerns primarily lie in the practicalities of adopting such a perspective for universal design.