EEG Theta Regulation and Radar Monitoring Performance in a Controlled Field Experiment.

Abstract : Fourteen Naval Petty Officers, rated either as Air Controller or Operations Specialist (radarman), and stationed at the USN Pacific Missile Range, Point Mugu, California, were trained to suppress parietal-occipital theta activity in EEG. Each subject then performed a 3-hour vigilance task on two occasions, once with and once without theta contingent feedback. The task was administered using real radar equipment and imagery. It consisted of observing a display to detect the occasional appearance of a simulated 'missile' contact which rapidly moved from the display periphery to its center. Missile detection latency during the third hour of the task was better with feedback, although the result was only marginally significant. Theta activity was, however, significantly lower in the feedback condition. Two subjects who alone showed the 'vigilance decrement' without feedback performed much better while suppressing theta activity when feedback was administered.