The effect of an external audio signed on vigilance performance and physiological parameters.

Abstract

This research was performed to determine the effect of an external audio signal on visual monitoring performance and any associated changes in physiological parameters of the subjects. The number of correct detections, the number of commissive errors, skin temperature, and skin resistance were recorded throughout the experiment. A two way nested analysis of variance showed that the application of the audio signal did not have a significant effect on the vigilance decrement. The same type of analysis was used to show that the audio signal did not have a significant effect on the physiological parameters measured in the experimental group. Over all experimental groups, skin resistance and skin temperature did change, but the changes were not unique to any given experimental condition. Multiple correlation analyses of the data indicated a high degree of complex interaction between the physiological parameters measured and the vigilance detection decrement.