諸多研究顯示人員作業績效與心智負荷程度相關，過高的心智負荷易導致作業人員疲勞或逃避，過低的心智負荷則容易產生降低警戒的情形。若能即時掌控人員的心智負荷狀態、維持適當負荷程度，將能提升人員安全性、舒適度以及生產力。
本研究試圖藉由輕便設備及簡易生理訊號採集方式廣泛收集多種生理訊號，找出與心智負荷最為相關的生理指標，並檢視生理訊號的變化與主觀問卷分數的相關性。
30位平均年齡21.8歲男性受試者參與本研究之實驗，以NASA-MATB (Multi-Attribute Task Battery)作為實驗作業，並執行三種不同作業難度階段。每個實驗階段都會即時擷取生理訊號，並在每階段結束後進行主觀問卷填寫。客觀生理訊號共有額葉及枕葉EEG振幅、心搏率、時域心率變異、頻域心率變異等，主觀負荷量度量表則有NASA-TLX及RSME。
研究結果顯示，腦部額葉EEG之α/θ複合指標，以及ECG之頻域指標LF、LF/HF對於作業難度變化反應最為線性，適合當作心智負荷監控指標。而其中腦部額葉EEG之α/θ複合指標、頻域HRV之LF/HF對主觀問卷RSME及NASA-TLX的分數都具有顯著的相關。
本研究的研究結果將可運用於心智工作為主之工廠機台操作人員，使相關人員得以控制在適切的負荷狀態，保持作業績效、降低失誤及意外發生。

參考文獻
1. Berka, C., Levendowski, D. J., Lumicao, M. N., Yau, Al, Davis, G., Zivkovic, V. T., Olmstead, R.E., Tremoulet, P. D., and Craven, P. L., 2007. EEG Correlates of Task Engagement and Mental Workload in Vigilance, Learning, and Memory Tasks. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 78(5), B231-B244.
2. Berka, C., Levendowski, D.J., Cvetinovic, M. M., Petrovic, M. M., Davis, G., Lumicao, M. N., Zivkovic, V. T., Popovic, M. V., and Olmstead, R., 2009. Real-Time Analysis of EEG Indexes of Alertness, Cognition, and Memory Acquired With a Wireless EEG Headset. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 17(2), 151-170.
3. Brookings, J. B., Wilson, G. F., and Swain, C. R., 1996. Psychophysiological responses to changes in workload during simulated air traffic control. Biological Psychology, 42, 361-377.
4. Cain, B., 2007. A Review of the Mental Workload Literature. In: NATO report RTO-TR-HFM-1211-Part II, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
5. Cooper, G. E., and Harper, R. P., 1969. The use of pilot ratings in the evaluation of aircraft handling qualities, NASA Ames Technical Report, NASA TN-D-5153, Moffett Field, CA: NASA Ames Research Center.
6. Cummings, M. L., and Guerlain, S., 2007. Developing Operator Capacity Estimates for Supervisory Control of Autonomous Vehicles. Human Factors, 49(1), 1-15.
7. Cummings, M. L., Myers, K., and Scott, S. D., 2006. Modified Cooper Harper Evaluation Tool for Unmanned Vehicle Displays. In: Proceedings of UVS Canada: Conference on Unmanned Vehicle Systems Canada, November 8-10, Montebello, PQ, Canada.
8. De Greef, T., Lafeber, H. van Oostendrop, H., and Lindenberg, J., 2009. Eye Movement as Indicators of Mental Workload to Trigger Adaptive Automation. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 5638, 219-228.
9. De Waard, D., Kruizinga, A., and Brookhuis, K. A., 2008. The consequence of an increase in heavy goods vehicles for passenger car drivers’ mental workload and behavior: A simulator study. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 40(2), 818-828.
10. Donchin, E., 1979. Event-related brain potentials: A tool in the study of human information processing, In: H. Begleiter (Ed.), Evoked Potentials and behavior, New York: Plenum, 13-75.
11. Dussault, C., Jouanin, J. C., Philippe, M., and Guezennec, Y. C., 2005. EEG and ECG Changes During Simulator Operation Reflect Mental Workload and Vigilance. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 76(4), 344-351.
12. Eggemeier, F.T., Wilson, G.F., Kramer, A.F., and Damos, D.L., 1991. General considerations concerning workload assessment in multi-task environments. In: D.L. Damos (Ed.) Multiple task performance, London: Taylor & Francis, 207–216.
13. Goldstein, R., Walrath, L. C., Stern, J. A., and Strock, B. D., 1985. Blink activity in a discrimination task as a function of stimulus modality and schedule of presentation, Psychophysiology, 22, 629-635.
14. Goldwater, B. C., 1972. Psychological significance of papillary movements. Psychological Bulletin, 77, 340-355.
15. Gore, B. F., and Jarvis, P. A., 2005. New Integrated Modeling Capabilities: MIDAS’ Recent Behavioral Enhancements (SAW-2005-01-2701). Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
16. Hankins, T. C., and Wilson, G. F., 1998. A comparison of Heart rate, eye activity, eeg and subjective measures of pilot Mental workload during flight, Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 69(4), 360-367.
17. Hart, J. R., Childress, M. E., and Hauser, J. R., 1982. Individual definitions of the term “workload”. Proceeding of the 1982 Psychology in the DOD Symposium USAFA, CO, 478-485.
18. Hart, S. G., 1986. Theory and measurement of human workload. In J. Zeidner(Ed.). Human Productivity; Enhancement. New York: Praeger, 496-555.
19. Hart, S. G., 2006. NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX); 20 Years Later. In: Proceedings of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 50th Annual Meeting. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, 904-908.
20. Hart, S. G., and Staveland, L. E., 1988. Development of NASA-TLX: Results of empirical and theoretical research. In: P. A. Hancock, and N. Meshkati (Eds.), Human mental workload, Elsevier Science Publishers, 139-183.
21. Hendy, K. C., Hamilton, K. M., and Landry, L. N., 1993. Measuring subjective workload: When is a one scale better than many?, Human Factors, 35, 579-601.
22. Hjortskov, N., Rissén, D., Blangsted, A. K., Fallentin, N., Lundberg, U., and Søgaard, K., 2004. The effect of mental stress on heart rate variability and blood pressure during computer work. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 92, 84-89.
23. Holm, A., Lukander, K., Korpela, J., Sallinen, M., and Müller, K. M. I., 2009. Estimating Brain Load from the EEG.. The Scientific World Journal, 9, 639-651.
24. International Organization for Standardization., 1991. 10075. Ergonomic principles related to mental workload – General terms and definitions.
25. Isreal, J. B., Wickens, C. D., and Donchin, E., 1980. The Event-Related Brain Potential as an Index of Display-Monitoring Workload, Human Factors, 22, No. 2, 211-224.
26. Jahns, D. W., 1973. ‘A concept of operator workload in manual vehicle operations’ Forschungsinstitut Anthropotechnik, Meckenheim, Bericht Nr. 14.
27. Jex, H. R., 1988. Measuring mental workload: problems, progress, and promises. In: Hancock PA, Meshkati N, eds. Human Mental Workload. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1988:185
28. Johannsen, G., 1979. Workload and Workload Measurement. Mental Workload. Neville Moray 3-11.
29. Kantowitz, B. H., and Casper, P. A., 1988. Human Workload in Aviation. In: Wiener, W. L., and Nagel, D. C, (Eds.), Human Factors in Aviation. Academic Press, 157-187.
30. Kahneman, D., 1973. Attention and effort. Eaglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
31. Kramer A. F., Sirevaag, E. J., and Braune, R., 1987. A psychophysiological assessment of operator workload during simulated flight missions, Human Factors, 29, 145-160.
32. Kurimori, S. and Kakizaki, T., 1995. Evaluation of work stress using psychological and physiological measures of mental activity in a paced calculating task, Industrial Health, 33, 7-22.
33. Lancy, I., 1967. Somatic response pattering and stress: Some revisions of activation theory. In: H. M. Appeley and R. Trumball (Eds.), Psychological Stress: Issues in Research, New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 14-37.
34. Laughery, K. R., LeBiere, C., and Archer, S., 2006. Modeling Human Performance in Complex Systems. In: G. Salvendy(Ed.), Hanbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics 3rd, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 965-996.
35. Lin, Y., and Cai, H., 2009. A method for building a real-time cluster-based continuous mental workload scale. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 10(6), 531-543.
36. Malik M, for the Task Force of the ESC and NASP., 1996. Heart rate variability: standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. European Heart Journal, 17, 354-381.
37. Miyake, S., Yamada, S., Shoji, T., Takae, Y., Kuge, N., and Yamamura, T., 2009. Physiological responses to workload change. A test/retest examination. Applied Ergonomics, 40, 987-996.
38. Mulder, G., 1979. Sinus arrhythmia and mental workload. In: N. Moray (Ed.), Mental Workload: Its Theory and Measurement, New York: Plenum Press, 437-343.
39. Mukherjee, S., Yadiv, R., Yung, I., Zajdel, D. P., and Oken, B. S., 2011. Sensitivity to mental effort and test-retest reliability of heart rate variability measures in healthy seniors. Clinical Neurophysiology, doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.02.032.
40. O’Donnell, R. D. and Eggemeier, F. T., 1986. Workload assessment methodology, In: K. R. Boff, L. Kaufman and J. P. Thomas (Eds.), Handbook of Perception and Human Performance, II, Cognitive Processes Performance, New York: Wiley Interscience, 42-1 ~ 42-49.
41. Papadelis, C., Kourtidou-Papadeli, C., Bamidis, P., and Albani, M., 2007. Effects of imagery training on cognitive performance and use of physiological measures as an assessment tool of mental effort. Brain and Cognition, 64, 74-85.
42. Peter, N., and Friedhelm N., 2003. Sensitivity and Diagnosticity of the 0.1-Hz Component of Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Mental Workload. Human Factors, 45(4), 575-590.
43. Reid, G. B., and Nygren, T. E., 1988. The subjective workload assessment technique: a scaling procedure for measuring mental workload. In: P. A. Hancock, and N. Meshkati (Eds.), Human mental workload, Elsevier Science Publishers, 185-218.
44. Rohmert, W., Laurig, W., Phillip, V. and Luzak, H., 1973. Heart rate variability and workload measurement, Ergonomics, 16(1), 33-44.
45. Rubio, S., Díaz, E., Martín, J., and Puente, J. M., 2004. Evaluation of Subjective Mental Workload: A Comparison of SWAT, NASA-TLX, and Workload Profile Method. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 53(1), 61-86.
46. Sanders, M. S., and McCormick, E. J., 1993. Human Factors in Engineering and Design. 7th Edition.
47. Sauseng, P., Klimesch, W., Schabus, M., and Doppelmayr., M., 2005. Fronto-parietal EEG coherence in theta and upper alpha reflect central executive functions of working memory. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 57, 97-103.
48. Sharbrough, F., Chatrian, G. E., Lesser, R. P., Luders, H., Nuwer, M., and Picton, T. W., 1991. American Electroencephalographic Society guidelines for standard electrode position nomenclature. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 8, 200-202.
49. Sheridan, T., 1980. Mental Workload: What is it? Why bother with it? Human Factors Society Bulletin, 23, 1-2,.
50. Sheridan, T, B., and Simpson, R. W., 1979. Toward the definition and measurement of the mental workload of transport pilots. Flight Transportation Laboratory, MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics,FLT Report R79-4, Jan.
51. Stauss, H. M., 2003. Heart Rate Variability. American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 285, 927-931.
52. Sutton, S., Tueting, P., Zubin, J., and John, E. R., 1967. Information delivery and the sensory evoked potential, Science, 155, 1436-1439.
53. Vandeput, S., Taelman, J., Spaepen, A., Van Huffel, S., 2009. Heart Rate Variability as a Tool to Distinguish Periods of Physical and Mental Stress in a Laboratory Environment. Proceeding of the 6th International Workshop on Biosignal Interpretation, New Haven, CT, Jun. 187-190.
54. Wickens, C. D., 1984. Engineering Psychology and Human Performance. Glenview, Illinois : Scott, Foresman and company.
55. Wickens, C. D., 2002. Multiple Resource and Performance Prediction. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 3(2), 159-177.
56. Wickens C. D., 2008. Multiple Resource and Mental Workload. Human Factors, 50(3), 449-455.
57. Wierwille, W. W., Rahimi, M., and Casali, J. G., 1985. Evaluation of 16 measures of mental workload using a simulated flight task emphasizing mediational activity, Human Factors, 27, 489-502.
58. Wilson, G. F., and Eggemeier, F. T., 1991. Psycho-physiological assessment of workload in multi-task environments, In: D. L. Damos (Ed.), Multiple-Task Performance, London: Taylor & Francis, 329-360.
59. Wilson, G. F., and Eggemeier, F. T., 2001. Mental Workload Measurement. In: W. Karwowski (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Ergonomics and Human Factors Vol.1. New York: Taylor & Francis.
60. Wilson, G. F., and Russel, C. A., 2003. Real-time assessment of mental workload using psychophysiological measures and artificial neural networks. Human Factors, 45, 635-643.
61. Wu, C., and Liu, Y., 2009. Development and evaluation of an ergonomic software package for predicting multi-task human performance and mental workload in human-machine interface design and evaluation. Computers and Industrial Engineering, 56(1), 323-333.
62. Yang, G., and Lin, Y., 2009. Using ECG Signal to Quantify Mental Workload Based on Wavelet Transform and Competitive Neural Network Techniques. Biomedical Soft Computing and Human Sciences, 14(2), 17-25.
63. Zijlstra, F. R. H. and Van Doorn, L., 1985. The construction of a scale to measure perceived effort. Delft, The Netherlands: Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Delft University of Technology