[Predicting the moments of critical vigilance decline by visuomotor coordination parameters]

A psychomotor test for induction of the state of monotony and visuomotor coordination analysis has been developed. The subject had to follow a small cicle slowly moving in circular orbit on a screen with a "mouse" cursor. When an additional target unexpectedly appeared, he had to catch it with a cursor and click a "mouse" button when the cursor was on it. Eye movements were recorded with an eyetracker. The experts marked the episodes of declined vigilance based on EEG and video of a subject. Analysis of parameters of visuomotor coordination demonstrated their high sensitivity to the vigilance decline. We have found the increase of variability in pursuit eye movements and "mouse" cursor movements during the episodes of lowered vigilance before the appearance of the additional target and also a growing latency of saccadic eye movements, cursor movements and "mouse" button presses when the cursor contacted the additional target. For latency of saccadic eye movements, cursor movements and mouse button presses significant increase was found 2-3 min before experts can detect vigilance decline too. The ability by visuomotor coordination parameters to predict the moments of critical vigilance decline is discussed.