Prestimulus Alpha as a Precursor to Errors in a UAV Target Orientation Detection Task

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become an important component of military aviation operations in many countries. Currently, UAV training for operation of light to medium weight craft typically takes place within a condensed time frame and by necessity; emphasis is placed on handling and maintenance of the physical aspects of the craft. There is a need for improved methods of facilitating the development of target identification, improved navigational and spatial skills and accomplishment of mission level goals. Toward this aim, in this investigation we examined the extent to which transient neurophysiological state could be used as an index of task engagement within a target detection training paradigm. Participants learned to distinguish stationary indicators of directional change in movement for target tanks located within a complex vehicle formation background. Prestimulus alpha was examined as an index of the probability that observers would correctly detect the presence or absence of a directional change. Rationale Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings have been used extensively as an index of task engagement and working memory load. For example, increases in frontal midline theta activity (5-7 Hz) and decreases in both slow (8-10.5 Hz) and fast (10-13 Hz) alpha activity are associated with current working memory demands in both spatial and verbal tasks (Gevins, Smith, McEvoy, & Yu, 1997; Smith, McEvoy, & Gevins, 1999). Alpha activity has also been shown to be impacted by training and practice, with increased