Cardiovascular state changes during performance of a simulated ambulance dispatchers' task: Potential use for adaptive support

Adaptive support has the potential to keep the operator optimally motivated, involved, and able to perform a task. In order to use such support, the operator's state has to be determined from physiological parameters and task performance measures. In an environment where the task of an ambulance dispatcher was simulated, two studies have been carried out to evaluate the feasibility of using cardiovascular measures for adaptive support. During performance of this 2-3 h lasting planning task, a pattern of results is found that can be characterized by an initial increase of blood pressure and heart rate and a decrease of heart rate variability (defense reaction pattern) followed by an ongoing increase of blood pressure counteracted by a decrease in heart rate. This pattern can be explained by an augmented short-term blood pressure control (baroreflex), which is reflected in an increase of baroreflex sensitivity. Additionally, in this latter phase heart rate variability (HRV) increases as a function of time, while blood pressure variability decreases. In the two studies performed, the baroreflex pattern was consistent for all the relevant variables. In both studies there were periods with high and low workload. Effects of task load are mainly reflected in the variability measures, while in the second study, additionally, blood pressure level was higher during periods with high task demands. The conclusion of the studies is that consistent cardiovascular response patterns can be recognized during this semi-realistic planning task, where variability measures are most sensitive to task demand changes, while blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity are most informative with respect to cardiovascular state changes. These findings can be seen as a great potential benefit for future use in adaptive support applications. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.