Spontaneous and reflexive eye activity measures of mental workload

Measures of eye activity, such as blink rate and scanning patterns, have been used extensively as psychophysiological indices of mental workload. In a review of measures derived from spontaneous eye activity it is shown that different measures are differentially sensitive to specific aspects of mental workload. A less well-known measure of non-spontaneous eye activity, the blink reflex, is also reviewed. Experiments using discrete punctuate stimuli and continuous tasks analogous to real-world systems show that blink reflexes are modulated by attention and that this modulation reflects modality-specific attentional engagement. Future research should examine the utility of the blink reflex according to the desirable properties of sensitivity, diagnosticity, validity, reliability, ease of use, unobtrusiveness, and operator acceptance.

Balancing acts: Respiratory sensations, motor control and human posture

1. The present brief review covers some novel aspects of integration between respiration and movement of the body. 2. There are potent viscerosomatic reflexes in animals involving small-diameter pulmonary afferents that, when excited, would limit exercise. However, recent studies using lobeline injections to excite pulmonary afferents in awake humans suggest that there is no evoked reflex motoneuronal inhibition. Instead, the noxious respiratory sensations generated by the vagal afferents may be crucial in the decision to stop exercise. 3. While respiratory movements may affect limb movements, the control of the trunk and limbs can involve interaction (and even interference) with key respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm. Recent studies have revealed that not only does the diaphragm receive feed-forward drive prior to some limb movements, but that it also contracts both phasically and tonically during repetitive limb movements. 4. Thus, challenges to posture can indirectly challenge ventilation, while coordinated diaphragm contraction may contribute to control of the trunk.

Role of peripheral afference during acquisition of a complex coordination task

It has long been supposed that the interference observed in certain patterns of coordination is mediated, at least in part, by peripheral afference from the moving limbs. We manipulated the level of afferent input, arising from movement of the opposite limb, during the acquisition of a complex coordination task. Participants learned to generate flexion and extension movements of the right wrist, of 75degrees amplitude, that were a quarter cycle out of phase with a 1-Hz sinusoidal visual reference signal. On separate trials, the left wrist either was at rest, or was moved passively by a torque motor through 50degrees, 75degrees or 100degrees, in synchrony with the reference signal. Five acquisition sessions were conducted on successive days. A retention session was conducted I week later. Performance was initially superior when the opposite limb was moved passively than when it was static. The amplitude and frequency of active movement were lower in the static condition than in the driven conditions and the variation in the relative phase relation across trials was greater than in the driven conditions. In addition, the variability of amplitude, frequency and the relative phase relation during each trial was greater when the opposite limb was static than when driven. Similar effects were expressed in electromyograms. The most marked and consistent differences in the accuracy and consistency of performance (defined in terms of relative phase) were between the static condition and the condition in which the left wrist was moved through 50degrees. These outcomes were exhibited most prominently during initial exposure to the task. Increases in task performance during the acquisition period, as assessed by a number of kinematic variables, were generally well described by power functions. In addition, the recruitment of extensor carpi radialis (ECR), and the degree of co-contraction of flexor carpi radialis and ECR, decreased during acquisition. Our results indicate that, in an appropriate task context, afferent feedback from the opposite limb, even when out of phase with the focal movement, may have a positive influence upon the stability of coordination.

Effect of varying levels of mental workload on startle eyeblink modulation

Previous research using punctuate reaction time and counting tasks has found that the startle eyeblink reflex is sensitive to attentional demands. The present experiment explored whether startle eyeblink is also modulated during a complex continuous task and is sensitive to different levels of mental workload. Participants (N=14) performed a visual horizontal tracking task either alone (single-task condition) or in combination with a visual gauge monitoring task (multiple-task condition) for three minutes. On some task trials, the startle eyeblink reflex was elicited by a noise burst. Results showed that startle eyeblink was attenuated during both tasks and that the attenuation was greater during the multiple-task condition than during the single-task condition. Subjective ratings, endogenous eyeblink rate, heart period, and heart period variability provided convergent validity of the workload manipulations. The findings suggest that the startle eyeblink is sensitive to the workload demands associated with a continuous visual task. The application of startle eyeblink modulation as a workload metric and the possibility that it may be diagnostic of workload demands in different stimulus modalities is discussed.

The effect of heat transfer mode on heart rate responses and hysteresis during heating and cooling in the estuarine crocodile Crocodylus porosus

The effect of heating and cooling on heart rate in the estuarine crocodile Crocodylus porosus was studied in response to different heat transfer mechanisms and heat loads. Three heating treatments were investigated. C. porosus were: (1) exposed to a radiant heat source under dry conditions; (2) heated via radiant energy while half-submerged in flowing water at 23degreesC and (3) heated via convective transfer by increasing water temperature from 23degreesC to 35degreesC. Cooling was achieved in all treatments by removing the heat source and with C. porosus half-submerged in flowing water at 23degreesC. In all treatments, the heart rate of C. porosus increased markedly in response to heating and decreased rapidly with the removal of the heat source. Heart rate during heating was significantly faster than during cooling at any given body temperature, i.e. there was a significant heart rate hysteresis. There were two identifiable responses to heating and cooling. During the initial stages of applying or removing the heat source, there was a dramatic increase or decrease in heart rate ('rapid response'), respectively, indicating a possible cardiac reflex. This rapid change in heart rate with only a small change or no change in body temperature (

Development of motor system dysfunction following whiplash injury

Dysfunction in the motor system is a feature of persistent whiplash associated disorders. Little is known about motor dysfunction in the early stages following injury and of its progress in those persons who recover and those who develop persistent symptoms. This study measured prospectively, motor system function (cervical range of movement (ROM), joint position error (JPE) and activity of the superficial neck flexors (EMG) during a test of cranio-cervical flexion) as well as a measure of fear of re-injury (TAMPA) in 66 whiplash subjects within 1 month of injury and then 2 and 3 months post injury. Subjects were classified at 3 months post injury using scores on the neck disability index: recovered (30). Motor system function was also measured in 20 control subjects. All whiplash groups demonstrated decreased ROM and increased EMG (compared to controls) at 1 month post injury. This deficit persisted in the group with moderate/severe symptoms but returned to within normal limits in those who had recovered or reported persistent mild pain at 3 months. Increased EMG persisted for 3 months in all whiplash groups. Only the moderate/severe group showed greater JPE, within 1 month of injury, which remained unchanged at 3 months. TAMPA scores of the moderate/severe group were higher than those of the other two groups. The differences in TAMPA did not impact on ROM, EMG or JPE. This study identifies, for the first time, deficits in the motor system, as early as 1 month post whiplash injury, that persisted not only in those reporting moderate/severe symptoms at 3 months but also in subjects who recovered and those with persistent mild symptoms. (C) 2002 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Boletim eletr??nico de bibliografias especializadas: igualdade de g??nero

A 2?? edi????o de 2013 do Boletim Eletr??nico de Bibliografias Especializadas destaca o tema Igualdade de G??nero. O documento traz indica????es de pu-blica????es do acervo da Biblioteca Graciliano Ramos/ENAP com reflex??es acerca das desi-gualdades entre homens e mulheres e suas consequ??ncias ?? sociedade. O objetivo ?? dar publicidade a esses materiais, visando a con-tribuir para uma melhor compreens??o do com-plexo cen??rio de defini????o das prioridades p??blicas e da formula????o de pol??ticas p??blicas governamentais comprometidas com a pers-pectiva de g??nero, em seus diversos aspectos. De acordo com a Organiza????o das Na????es Unidas para a Educa????o, a Ci??ncia e a Cultura (Unesco), os direitos das mulheres devem ser entendidos como direitos humanos e cultu-rais fundamentais. J?? a Pol??tica Nacional para as Mulheres, coordenada pela Secre-taria Especial de Pol??ticas para as Mulhe-res (SPM), da Presid??ncia da Rep??blica, tem como pressupostos e princ??pios a equi-dade, a autonomia das mulheres, a laicida-de do Estado, a universalidade das pol??ti-cas, a justi??a social, a transpar??ncia dos atos p??blicos, a participa????o e o controle social.

Boletim eletr??nico de bibliografias especializadas: pol??tica de transfer??ncia condicionada de renda

As pol??ticas de Transfer??ncia Condicionada de Renda (TCR) s??o consideradas a mais nova gera????o de pol??ticas sociais. O fato tem chamado a aten????o de profissionais do setor p??blico e de acad??micos de diferentes ??reas. Nos ??ltimos anos, diversas experi??ncias, sobretudo na Am??rica Latina, t??m-se destacado pelo impacto positivo sobre os indicadores sociais da popula????o, entre elas: o Programa Bolsa Fam??lia, no Brasil; o Programa de Desarrollo Humano Oportunidades, no M??xico; e o Sistema Chile Solid??rio, no Chile. O Programa Bolsa Fam??lia, criado em 2003, constitui a maior pol??tica p??blica de TCR da Am??rica Latina, tanto em or??amento quanto em cobertura. Atualmente, atende cerca de 13.800.000 fam??lias, em todos os munic??pios do Pa??s. O Programa tem servido de modelo para a difus??o desse tipo de pol??tica no mundo. O tema envolve v??rias dimens??es da ??rea social, por se tratar de uma pol??tica essencialmente intersetorial. O Bolsa Fam??lia vem se destacando nos debates da administra????o p??blica, devido ?? sua forte capacidade de melhoria das condi????es das fam??lias benefici??rias. Diante disso, a 5a edi????o do Boletim Eletr??nico de Bibliografias Especializadas apresenta uma reuni??o de publica????es do acervo da Biblioteca Graciliano Ramos que abordam os seguintes temas: transfer??ncia condicionada de renda, programas sociais, desigualdade social, combate da pobreza e pol??ticas p??blicas. O objetivo ?? divulgar obras que auxiliem servidores p??blicos na reflex??o e compreens??o desses assuntos

Programa Bolsa Fam??lia: financiando fam??lias para o desenvolvimento

O estudo de caso trata da implementa????o do Bolsa Fam??lia, um programa de transfer??ncia de renda para fam??lias pobres, condicionada ao atendimento de exig??ncias espec??ficas por parte dos benefici??rios (comumente conhecida como ???transfer??ncia condicionada de renda???). Ap??s a descri????o dos antecedentes, apontando experi??ncias em n??vel local que inspiraram a pol??tica nacional, o autor apresenta as fases de implementa????o do programa, identificando dificuldades, cr??ticas recebidas e solu????es encontradas pelo governo federal. Em seguida, documenta impactos na redu????o da pobreza e da desigualdade social, e analisa a expans??o do espa??o p??blico originada da experi??ncia do Bolsa Fam??lia. O caso ilustra situa????o que suscita reflex??o e an??lise dos alunos com rela????o ao desenho e desenvolvimento de programa complexo de pol??tica social, podendo se desdobrar em novas pesquisas sobre o Bolsa Fam??lia, seus fatores cr??ticos e de sucesso

Escolas de governo e gest??o por compet??ncias: mesa-redonda de pesquisa-a????o

Dando sequ??ncia aos debates iniciados em 2004 e 2005 e que tiveram como produto o livro ???Gest??o por compet??ncias em organiza????es de governo???, a Mesa-redonda de Pesquisa-A????o vers??o 2009 prop??e-se a suprir uma lacuna importante: discutir a atua????o do Sistema de Escolas de Governo da Uni??o em face das diretrizes da Pol??tica Nacional de Desenvolvimento de Pessoal (PNDP) ??? Decreto n?? 5.707 de 23 de fevereiro de 2006

Programa de financiamento ??s exporta????es: PROEX: an??lise da implementa????o

O presente trabalho traz uma an??lise acerca do Programa de Financiamento ??s Exporta????es (PROEX), programa do governo brasileiro de cr??dito ??s exporta????es, que tem por objetivo dotar os exportadores brasileiros de condi????es de cr??dito similares ??s encontradas no cen??rio internacional, de forma a dar mais competitividade ??s exporta????es brasileiras, principalmente das micro, pequenas e m??dias empresas. O estudo parte de conceitos e referencial anal??tico, referentes ao processo de implementa????o de pol??ticas p??blicas. Tamb??m como aporte te??rico, ?? feita uma explana????o a respeito do papel atribu??do ??s exporta????es no ??mbito das teorias econ??micas e das caracter??sticas do cr??dito internacional, que trazem a essa modalidade seus aspectos ??nicos. A partir de dados or??ament??rios, do desempenho do Programa e da legisla????o pertinente, s??o feitas algumas reflex??es acerca do comportamento do PROEX entre os anos de 2003 e 2012. S??o tamb??m apresentados alguns gargalos observados no processo de implementa????o do Programa.Assim, como principal desafio foi identificada a necessidade de facilita????o na obten????o de garantias para a efetiva????o das opera????es. Uma maior divulga????o tamb??m tornaria o programa mais abrangente, al??m de outros fatores. O Programa parece atingir parcialmente seu objetivo, pois apesar de efetivamente apoiar as exporta????es de micro, pequenas e m??dias empresas e oferecer condi????es mais competitivas para as exporta????es nacionais, ainda carece de uma maior abrang??ncia, principalmente no que diz respeito ao n??mero de empresas atendidas. A cria????o do Fundo de Financiamento ?? Exporta????o(FFEX)dever?? trazer novidades ?? forma de implementa????o e atua????o do PROEX

Gest??o de Pessoas: bases te??ricas e experi??ncias no setor p??blico

Embora haja extensa literatura dedicada ?? gest??o de pessoas nas empresas, poucas obras tomam como foco as especificidades desse tema na administra????o p??blica. Sistematizando reflex??es realizadas no decorrer da primeira edi????o do curso de Especializa????o em Gest??o de Pessoas no Servi??o P??blico, esta obra valoriza a articula????o entre o conhecimento acad??mico, trazido por professores de renomadas universidades brasileiras, e a experi??ncia dos servidores p??blicos, participantes do curso. Ao disseminar os aprendizados gerados, a publica????o busca ampliar o debate sobre os temas em refer??ncia e subsidiar o interc??mbio e a produ????o de conhecimentos inerentes ?? tem??tica no servi??o p??blico, considerando sua centralidade para a sustentabilidade dos programas de governo. Nos textos publicados, professores e alunos tratam de temas, conceitos e experi??ncias que hoje s??o desafios na gest??o de pessoas no setor p??blico. N??o h?? pretens??o de fazer abordagens conclusivas e, sim, trazer indaga????es

Texto para discuss??o 7: Brasil s??culo XXI: a constru????o de um Estado eficaz

Em tempo algum da hist??ria a necessidade de se trabalhar a respeito da miss??o, da lideran??a e do desempenho das organiza????es sem fins lucrativos foi t??o urgente como nos dias atuais. E ?? essa urg??ncia que o presente trabalho, ???Brasil S??culo XXI ??? A constru????o de um Estado eficaz???, quer agregar ?? reflex??o da proposta de reforma do Estado brasileiro

Texto para discuss??o 18: ag??ncias executivas: estrat??gias de reforma administrativa

Este trabalho tem por objeto uma an??lise do projeto ag??ncias executivas, que ?? um dos projetos integrantes do plano diretor da Reforma do Aparelho do Estado (plano diretor). Trata-se, essencialmente, da implanta????o da reforma administrativa nas autarquias e funda????es p??blicas federais, que operam no Setor de Atividades Exclusivas do Estado

Projeto b??sico: oficina de discuss??o: leitura e escrita de qualidade para todos

Contrata????o de servi??os t??cnicos profissionais especializados de doc??ncia para modera????o na Oficina, sob medida, de reflex??o e alinhamento das pol??ticas de promo????o e incentivo ?? leitura em nosso Pa??s