Tracking the Cognitive Band in an Open-Ended Task.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Open-ended tasks present challenges for cognitive modeling and performance tracking.
• Newell's Cognitive Band provides a framework for decomposing complex tasks into hierarchical levels: Unit-Task, Operation, and Deliberate-Act.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the video game Co-op Space Fortress at the three levels of Newell's Cognitive Band.
• To evaluate the match between a cognitive model and subject behavior.
• To investigate the use of electroencephalogram (EEG) for tracking subject cognition during task performance.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of gameplay in Co-op Space Fortress.
• Development and application of a cognitive model.
• Collection and analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) data from subjects.
• Comparison of model behavior with subject behavior across task levels.

Main Results:

• A strong match was observed between subject behavior and the cognitive model at the Unit-Task level.
• EEG signals effectively tracked the success or failure of Unit Tasks.
• EEG signals at the Operation level were weaker, but allowed for better-than-chance reconstruction of subject play.
• Significant discrepancies were found between subject and model behavior at the Operation level.
• Overlapping key actions at the Deliberate-Act level complicated model interpretation and EEG signal identification.

Conclusions:

• The Unit-Task level is the most appropriate for understanding and tracking performance in open-ended tasks.
• EEG is a viable tool for monitoring cognitive performance, particularly at higher task levels.
• Current cognitive models may require refinement to capture the nuances of lower-level task execution.