Niels Galley

Blinks and saccades as indicators of fatigue in sleepiness warnings: looking tired?

The present study examines changes in a variety of oculomotoric variables as a function of increasing sleepiness in 129 participants, who have been passed through a broad range of subjective alertness. Up to now, spontaneous eye blinks are the most promising biosignal for in-car sleepiness warnings. Reviewing the current literature on eye movements and fatigue, experimental data are provided including additional indicative oculomotoric parameters; inter-individual differences in the experiments were also assessed. Here, self-rated alertness decreased over six steps on average and proved itself a reliable measurement. Regarding oculomotoric parameters, blink duration, delay of lid reopening, blink interval and standardised lid closure speed were identified as the best indicators of subjective as well as objective sleepiness. Saccadic parameters and fixation durations also showed specific changes with increasing sleepiness. Substantial inter-individual differences in all of these variables were illustrated. Oculomotoric parameters were linked to three different components of sleepiness while driving: a) deactivation; b) decreasing attention, resulting in disinhibition of spontaneous blinks and reflexive saccades; c) increasing attempts of self-activation. Finally, implications for the development of drowsiness detection devices were discussed.

The evaluation of the electrooculogram as a psychophysiological measuring instrument in the driver study of driver behaviour.

Certain disadvantages of the EOG (electrooculogram) in the measurement of gaze behaviour (for example lack of stability) can be overcome by using on-line computer identification of saccades and additional keyboard marking of relevant gazes by the experimenter. This reveals the advantages of EOG measurement for precise fixation durations of gazes on defined instruments, activation decrements and increments of drivers due to time on task or mental effort (via saccadic velocity), and blink behaviour as controlled interruptions of visual behaviour. Three studies of traffic relevant questions were performed: (a) to better define optimal characteristics of digital displays; (b) to evaluate possible misperceptions caused by reflexions in the outside rear view mirror images passing through double-gazed windows of the car; (c) and to compare a head-up-display vs. conventional speedometer reading in real traffic situations. Saccades and blinks of the drivers in these situations were measured by the EOG-ON-LINE device, and its effectiveness assessed thus.

Do Mental Speed and Musical Abilities Interact

Abstract: The relation between mental speed and musical ability was investigated. Seventeen subjects aged 3‐7 years were divided into two subgroups: one (G1; n= 9) consisted of children who participated in an early childhood music program and who received informal musical guidance, but no special training; the other (G2; n= 8) consisted of highly talented young violin players who received intensive parental support and special training by daily deliberate practice. Mental and musical abilities of both groups were controlled by standardized tests (Kaufmans ABC and Gordons PMMA) and compared with data taken from recordings of saccadic eye movement using online identification from an electrooculogram (EOG). Results of EOG measurement are referred to as “mental speed,” which correlates highly with general mental abilities (intelligence). These results were compared with EOG scores taken from a larger sample of children of the same age range (n= 82) who received no music instruction. The grand average of their scores served as a reference line for mental speed, which is normally expected to be performed by an equivalent age group. Data in the two experimental groups did not differ statistically; however, all musically experienced children had a highly significant advantage in mental age (P <0.01) compared to the reference line of the normal population who did not exhibit any effect of training and practice. This indicates strong interaction between mental speed and music ability, which can be interpreted in terms of the expertise model and cognitive transfer effects.

No disadvantage for left-handed musicians: The relationship between handedness, perceived constraints and performance-related skills in string players and pianists

Two studies investigate the influence of handedness on a musical performance. In Experiment 1 we compared designated non-right-handed (dNRH) and designated right-handed (dRH) string and piano players performing in the (non-inverted) standard playing position with respect to (1) performance-related variables (e.g., musical expression) and (2) health-related variables (e.g., discomfort). The 47 professional instrumentalists (pianists: n = 23, string players: n = 24) were classified for handedness (performance handedness) and participated in a survey study on sensorimotor skills and their sense of well-being at the instrument. In Experiment 2, we tested for differences in sensorimotor performance of both hands in right- and left-handed pianists: 19 professional pianists (music students) were classified for handedness (preference handedness). Participants performed scale playing. In Experiment 1 no evidence was found for a performance-related or well-being-related disadvantage in dNRH instrumentalists playing in the standard position. In Experiment 2 temporal sensorimotor precision in the right hand was superior to that of the left hand in both right- and left-handed pianists. We conclude that professional musicians adapt to the standard playing position regardless of their objective handedness. However, it cannot be ruled out that a subgroup of dNRH instrumentalists subjectively feel constricted when playing in the standard position.

The relation between lateralisation, early start of training, and amount of practice in musicians: a contribution to the problem of handedness classification.

This study investigates the influence of extensive bimanual training in professional musicians on the incidence of handedness in the most basic form of right-handedness (RH) and non-right-handedness (NRH), according to Annetts “right shift theory”. The lateralisation coefficients (LCs) of a total sample of 128 bimanually performing music students were calculated for speed, regularity, and fatigue of tapping by using the speed tapping paradigm. Additionally, the accumulated amount of practice was recorded by means of retrospective interviews. The proportion of designated right-handers (dRH) and non-right-handers (dNRH) in hand performance was identified by binary logistic regression from LCs. A proportion of 30.8% designated NRH in the group of musicians was found, while in the control group of non-musicians (matched for age range) a proportion of 21.7% designated NRH was observed. Incidence of dNRH was higher in string players (35.6%) than in pianists (27.1%). As an effect of the extensive training of the left hand, tapping regularity increased and tapping fatigue decreased among those participants who evidenced an increased amount of accumulated practice time on the instrument. However, speed difference between hands (as indicated by LCs) remained uninfluenced by bimanual training. This finding is in contrast to those of Jäncke, Schlaug, and Steinmetz (1997). Finally, our study provides a more reliable (statistical) classification as an external criterion for future genetic analyses of handedness.

Kurzgefasste Intelligenzdiagnostik bei Hirntumoren

Zusammenfassung. Eine kurze neuropsychologisch orientierte Intelligenzdiagnostik stellt einen notwendigen Bestandteil jeder Befunderhebung bei Kindern mit zerebralen Erkrankungen dar und ist z. B. bei Hirntumoren notwendig, um Leistungsbeeintrachtigungen durch den Tumor beschreiben und eine Risikoabschatzung der Behandlungskonsequenzen durchfuhren zu konnen. Die Wurzburger Psychologische Kurz-Diagnostik (WUP-KD) ist ein Screening-Instrument, um mentale Funktionen in ca. einer Zeitstunde zu untersuchen. Diese Kurz-Intelligenzdiagnostik ist in ihren wesentlichen Teilen leicht anwendbar und wenig belastend fur das Kind. Auch schwer erkrankte Kinder sind so im Behandlungsverlauf untersuchbar. Aus diesem Grund erfasst der WUP-KD uber den IQ hinaus die sensomotorischen und feinmotorischen Funktionen, die Reaktionsfahigkeit und die Aufmerksamkeit. Erste Vergleiche des Kurztests mit der K-ABC zeigen in Regressionsanalysen gute Varianzaufklarungen wesentlicher Parameter der K-ABC. Die Auswahl der Tests erfolgte un...