Operators' cognitive performance under extreme hot-humid exposure and its physiological-psychological mechanism based on ECG, fNIRS, and Eye Tracking

Operators' cognitive functions are impaired significantly under extreme heat stress, potentially resulting in more severe secondary disasters. This research investigated the impact of elevated temperature and humidity (25 60%RH, 30 70%RH, 35 80%RH, 40 90%RH) on the cognitive functions and performance of operators. Meanwhile, we explored the psychological-physiological mechanism underlying the change in performance by electrocardiogram (ECG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and eye tracking physiologically. Psychological aspects such as situation awareness, workload, and working memory were assessed. Eventually, we verified and extended the maximal adaptability model to the extreme condition. Unexpectedly, a temporary improvement in simple reaction tasks but rapid impairment in advanced cognitive functions (i.e. situation awareness, communication, working memory) was obtained above 35 WBGT. The best performance in a suitable environment was due to more effective activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). With temperature increasing, more mistakes occurred and comprehension was impaired due to drowsiness and lower arousal levels, according to evidence of compensatory effect in fNIRS. In the extreme environment, the enhanced PFC cooperation with higher functional connectivity resulted in a temporary improvement, while depressed activation in PFC, heavy physical load, and poor regulation of the cardiovascular system restricted it. Our results provide a detailed study of the process of operators' performance and cognitive functions when encountering increasing heat stress, as well as its underlying mechanisms from a neuroergonomics perspective. This can contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between operators' performance and workplace conditions, and help to achieve a more reliable human-centered production system in the promising era of Industry 5.0.