Based on previous research showing the usefulness of spatial statistics in detecting randomness in the distribution of eye fixations, this study investigated the ocular behavior of professional pilots engaged in a simulated flight. The distribution of eye fixations was used as an indirect index of mental workload: Eye movements were recorded during the different phases (departure to landing) of a simulated flight and were analyzed using spatial statistics algorithms. Results showed sensitivity of spatial dispersion indices to variations in mental workload: higher during departure and landing, lower during climb and descend, and the lowest during the cruise phase. This finding provides additional evidence of the utility of fixations distribution as a real-time measure of mental workload and, consequently, as a trigger for adaptive automation.
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Nocera et al. (2007) studied this question.