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Integrated Cognitive Assessment: Combining Measurement, System, and Mission

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX08CC20P
Agency Tracking Number: 074440
Amount: $99,982.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X13.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2007
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-02-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-07-31
Small Business Information
1 1/2 S. Central Avenue
Fairborn, OH 45324-4716
United States
DUNS: 175329382
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Robert O'Donnell
 Principal Investigator
 (937) 879-0612
 ODNova@aol.com
Business Contact
 Beth Barker
Title: Business Official
Phone: (937) 879-0612
Email: BBarker307@aol.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Existing cognitive performance test batteries consist of synthetic tasks that, while they may probe isolated cognitive functions, provide an incomplete and unconvincing picture of an individual's true cognitive capacity within the total context of space missions. In essence, they are 'laboratory' measures that appear unrelated to the real-world environment. This leads to user non-compliance or rejection. The present proposal describes a technique for integrating traditional cognitive performance measures with assessment of the system and mission in which the individual must operate. This yields quantified measures of the person's cognitive ability to perform specific jobs in space. Specifically, an entertaining and scientifically rigorous assessment tool is integrated with a sleep/fatigue model and a quantified workload estimate for each task. This is accomplished by selecting tests based on task analyses of what the astronaut actually has to do, using the Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool (FAST) to predict performance capacity as a function of sleep/rest, and integrating a mathematical vector to quantify the workload of specific tasks. The resulting "Person-System-Mission (PSM) index" provides a totally new and unique way not only to assess present cognitive capability, but to diagnose specific causes of decrement, and to suggest remedial actions.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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