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Automation regroups a variety of advanced tools meant to improve performance and decrease human workload. This article was designed to investigate how different automation solutions, engaging different human–machine cooperation modes, interact with expertise. Aircraft pilots (i.e., experts) and nonpilots (i.e., novices) were presented with a set of simplified flight piloting tasks monitored simultaneously using the Open MATB (Open Multiattribute Task Battery) in four different automation conditions (manual, assisted, cooperative, and supervisory control). Experts’ performances at the Open MATB were higher than those of novices. Experts also exhibited a lower level of workload. Apart from function delegation, where no human performance is required, automation solutions benefit experts and novices similarly. Participants were then asked to choose repeatedly between the four automation conditions. Experts and novices exhibited different strategies. Novices spread their choices over the different automation conditions, whereas experts clearly favor cooperative control, the automation solution that enhanced their expertise.

International audience; The aging process does not progress at the same speed between individuals (Hertzog, Kramer, Wilson, & Lindenberger,2008). The following two categories of factors moderate the speed of aging and explain a large part of the variance in the cognitive performance of individuals throughout the life span: genetic factors and lifestyle factors. Genetic factors are related to genetic polymorphisms that can influence cognitive phenotypes. Lifestyle factors notably include the amount of physical activity (PA) practiced every week throughout a long period (e.g., 1 year) and the dietary habits. This chapter aimsto specify the relationships among the following four variables: aging, inhibitory control, the genetic polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene located at codon 66, and PA.In the second and following section, we focus on inhibitory control and show its crucial role in cognition and daily living. In the third section, we discuss on the unity and diversity of inhibitory processes. In the fourth section, we presentthe two main categories of effortful inhibitory control and their brain substrates. In the fifth section, we address the deleterious effect of aging on this important executive function. In the sixth section, we explain the role of neurotrophins, and more particularly the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in brain plasticity and brain health, and present the gene that affects its trafficking and secretion. In the seventh and eighth parts, we review the role of the genetic polymorphism of this gene in cognition during aging. Finally, in the ninth section, we examine the moderating role of physicalactivity and eating behaviors in the relationship between BDNF polymorphism and cognitive aging.

The present study investigated the role of executive functions in the development of two aspects of timing: temporal reproduction and comparison. Children aged 7 and 10 years and young adults were asked to either reproduce target durations (i.e., reproduction task) or judge the similarity of two target durations (i.e., comparison task). These temporal tasks were performed in isolation (single-task condition) or in conjunction (dual-task condition) with an executive task tapping inhibitory control (i.e., Stroop-like interference in animals size task). The results showed that the concurrent executive task degraded temporal performance to a greater extent at the age of 7 years than in older children and adults, and that it had much less influence on temporal comparison than on temporal reproduction. Conversely, regardless of age group, the concurrent timing of stimuli decreased response accuracy in the inhibitory control task in both temporal tasks, but to a greater extent in the comparison than the reproduction task. Furthermore, the dual task condition reduced response time in the executive task, but only in children aged 7 years -and not in older children and adults. Thus, both duration reproduction and comparison relate to executive functions, although the relation is stronger for reproduction. Importantly, timing progress during childhood stems at least partly from more efficient executive functions (more specifically inhibitory control).

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International audience; The aim of the present study was to provide descriptive dietary patterns of home-living older adults, and to examine their association with sociodemographic and ‘diet-related’ variables, and health and psychological factors. Dietary patterns were analyzed using separately cluster analysis for men (N = 151, Mage = 72.72, SD = 8.80, range = 56-97) and women (N = 251, Mage = 76.74, SD = 9.95, range = 55-97) in 402 older adults aged 55 years and over. Cluster analyses showed four distinct dietary profiles for each gender. In older men, the four distinct dietary clusters were associated with any differences in sociodemographic and ‘diet-related’ variables, cognitive function, and health and psychological factors. Likewise, in older women, the four distinct dietary clusters were associated with any differences in sociodemographic and ‘diet-related' variables’. However in older women, results showed that the cluster 1 “high fish-fruit-vegetable” was associated with a better cognitive function, a better self-rated health and no depressive symptoms, whereas cluster 3 “moderate ready meals” was associated with cognitive decline, slight depression, and poor perceived health. Results emphasize the interest to take into consideration health and psychological factors associated with dietary patterns to better target the vulnerability of individuals and enable an effective prevention.

ISBN : 979-10-92329-03-2; International audience

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One hypothesis that could explain the beneficial effects of physical exercise on cognitive function is the cardiorespiratory hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that improved cognitive functioning may be in part a result of the physiological processes that occur after physical exercise such as: Increased cerebral perfusion and regional cerebral blood flow. These processes ensure increased oxygenation and glucose transportation to the brain, which together can improve cognitive function. The objective of this narrative review is to examine the contribution of this hypothesis in the care of African older adults with neurodegenerative conditions (i.e., dementia (Alzheimer’s disease)) or with mild cognitive impairments. Although studies in developed countries have examined people of African descent (i.e., with African Americans), only the limited findings presented in this review reflect how these conditions are also important for the African continent. This review revealed that no studies have examined the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness on neurodegenerative disease in Africa. African nations, like many other developing countries, have an aging population that is growing and will face an increased risk of neurodegenerative declines. It is therefore imperative that new research projects be developed to explore the role of the cardiorespiratory fitness in neurodegenerative disease prevention in African nations.

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Cet article a pour objectif d’analyser l’activite cognitive d’un des principaux acteurs du secteur de la construction : le conducteur de travaux, operateur charge de preparer, suivre et cloturer les chantiers. En resituant le chantier dans le processus de conception-realisation de l’ouvrage, nous montrons tout d’abord que le chantier est une situation complexe et dynamique. Ce point de vue nous amene ensuite a caracteriser l’activite cognitive du conducteur de travaux comme etant de la supervision de situation dynamique lors de la phase de realisation du chantier et de l’ordonnancement et du reordonnancement lors de la preparation et du suivi du chantier. Les apports de cette perspective sont, d’une part, l’enrichissement des situations dynamiques et, d’autre part, l’ouverture a d’autres facons de questionner l’activite du conducteur de travaux.

Mental workload is a concept central to a range of disciplines (including cognitive psychology and ergonomics) that has given rise to various theoretical and methodological debates. As a result, researchers have used a number of techniques for measuring mental workload. Traditionally, three categories of measurement technique have been recognized: performance measures (e.g., the dual-task paradigm), subjective measures (e.g., rating scales), and physiological measures (e.g., heart, respiration, and blink rates). Each technique has advantages and limitations; however, some limitations may prevent an accurate evaluation of the mental workload. In this article, we focus on the benefits of combining multiple measures of mental workload. However, because combining several techniques is a very complex process, we have developed the Tholos software in an attempt to reduce this complexity. This software package uses measures from each of the three categories: a dual-task paradigm with auditory signals; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index (NASA-TLX) scale and its simplified version, the "raw" task load index (RTLX); and physiological (such as pupil-dilation) measurements with which our software can merge results from the dual-task paradigm. To illustrate the benefits of using Tholos, we describe a puzzle-solving experiment in which we combined multiple measures of mental workload. The results indicate the importance of combining multiple measures to build upon the theoretical and methodological foundations of mental workload.

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Resume L’objectif de cette etude est d’examiner les effets de la pression temporelle sur les estimations de durees. Les participants doivent resoudre des labyrinthes dans deux conditions de pression temporelle (avec/sans). Apres chaque labyrinthe, ils doivent estimer la duree ecoulee depuis le debut de la resolution. Les resultats revelent que sous pression temporelle, les participants 1) surestiment les durees de resolution des labyrinthes et 2) sont moins variables dans leurs estimations temporelles. Ces resultats sont discutes dans le cadre du modele de traitement de l’information temporelle.

Cet article propose d’etudier le concept de charge mentale et ce qu’il implique dans le domaine de l’aeronautique. Les modes de gestion de la charge mentale qui sont employes par les operateurs sont l’objet de cette analyse. L’objectif ici est de definir les indicateurs de la situation qui agissent sur cette gestion, ainsi que la facon dont ils sont traites par l’operateur au cours de l’execution d’une tâche. Pour cela, une etude du concept de charge mentale, basee sur les travaux anterieurs publies sur cette question, est associee aux principales caracteristiques du domaine deduites d’observations menees sur le terrain. Ce travail nous permet de proposer un modele operatif de gestion de la charge mentale. Ce modele illustre le role essentiel joue par la nature de la situation et de ses evolutions au cours du temps sur la gestion des ressources cognitives des operateurs.

Scheduling activities are carried out in the domains of industry (production scheduling), personnel (nurse scheduling) and transportation (train scheduling). Nevertheless, there is little available knowledge on how operators schedule. In general, laboratory studies have been found to be not entirely representative of real situations (i.e. there are problems of ecological validity). Furthermore, it is difficult to make generalizations because field studies are usually conducted with just one scheduler. To overcome these two issues, this paper suggests bringing laboratory and field studies closer together using a cognitive typology. First, typologies that do not explicitly refer to a cognitive point of view are discussed. Second, the properties of a cognitive typology are detailed. A cognitive typology specific to scheduling situations is presented. This typology associates seven dimensions with their related human strategies: complexity; uncertainty; time pressure; cycle synchronicity; process steadiness; ...

RESUME Ce texte propose une synthese des travaux conduits sur la notion de contrainte en psychologie cognitive et ergonomique, en s’appuyant egalement sur des recherches issues de l’intelligence artificielle (IA). La notion de contrainte se retrouve frequemment dans la litterature scientifique au sein de ces deux disciplines, sans pour autant qu’un travail de synthese n’ait ete realise. C’est dans l’objectif de remedier a cette limite que ce travail s’inscrit, en nous focalisant plus particulierement sur les situations individuelles de resolution de problemes. La premiere partie de ce travail est consacree a la presentation des differentes definitions et typologies de contraintes que l’on retrouve dans la litterature, en proposant des mises en relation entre les typologies. La seconde partie expose les operations qui sont effectuees sur les contraintes (notamment, la formulation, la propagation et la satisfaction), en proposant egalement des mises en relation entre les differentes approches presentees. Nous concluons ce travail par la proposition de pistes de recherche et de reflexion a approfondir que suggere l’etat d’avancement de la recherche s’interessant aux contraintes.

RESUME Ce texte presente d’abord les differentes situations d’ordonnancement et les questions qu’elles posent, tant aux machines qu’aux humains. Il fait ensuite le point sur les travaux menes depuis la derniere revue de question exhaustive de P. Sanderson (1989) sur les facteurs humains dans l’ordonnancement. Il rappelle l’etat de la question en 1989 et decrit quelques avancees dans le renouvellement des approches formelles, dans l’analyse des strategies humaines et dans l’emergence d’une conception plus cooperative des relations homme-machine dans ce domaine. Il se conclut par quelques directions de recherche qui pourraient etre prometteuses.