After-Effects of Human-Computer Interaction Indicated by
P300 of the Event-Related Brain Potential (ERP)
Michael Trimmel & Raoul Huber
Institute of Environmental Health, University of Vienna
Trimmel, M., & Huber, R. (1998).
After-effects of human-computer interaction indicated by P300 of the event-related
brain potential. Ergonomics, 41(5), 649-655.
Abstract: After-effects of human-computer interaction (HCI) were
investigated by using the P300 component of the event-related brain potential
(ERP). Forty-nine subjects (naive non-users, beginners, experienced users,
programmers) completed three paper/pencil tasks (text editing, solving
intelligence test items, filling out questionnaire on sensation seeking)
and three HCI tasks (text editing, executing a tutor program or programming,
playing Tetris). The sequence of 7 minutes tasks were randomized between
subjects and balanced between groups. After each experimental condition
ERPs were recorded during an acoustic discrimination task at F3, F4, Cz,
P3, P4. Data indicate that (1) mental after-effects of HCI can be detected
by P300 of the ERP; (2) HCI showed general a reduced amplitude; (3) P300
amplitude varied also with type of task, mainly at F4 where it was smaller
after cognitive tasks (intelligence test/programming) and larger after
emotion based tasks (sensation seeking/Tetris); (4) cognitive tasks showed
shorter latencies which were (5) widely location-independent (within the
range of 356-358 msec at F3, F4, P3, P4) after executing the tutor program
or programming; (6) all observed after-effects are independent of the users
experience in operating computers and may therefore reflect short-term
after-effects only and no structural changes of information processing
caused by MCI
Trimmel's
list of electronically available abstracts/full text papers
Trimmel's English homepage
Trimmels (German) Homepage
E-mail: michael.trimmel@univie.ac.at