arXiv subjects

James Crum

Publications and source records attributed to James Crum.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Leveraging fNIRS to Evaluate Workload for Adaptive Training in Virtual Reality

Advance in technology offer the potential for future adoption of a combination of virtual reality (VR) and real-time adaptivity to enhance training and education. Providing a valid neuro-ergonomic measure of cognitive load can enable an adaptive training regime to continuously adjust tas difficulty to an optimal level as training progresses. The current study validated the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measure of cognitive load to reflect the demands of two different forms of lad within Cognitive Load Theory: extraneous and intrinsic to he task to be mastered. Thirty-six participants completed a VR shape assembly training task followed by a test of their skill retention They wore near-full head coverage fNIRS and provided subjective ratings of ther workload. The fNIRS findings largely corroborate intrinsic workload literature with significant activation in cortical regions (dorsolateral and rostral prefrontal cortex and left angular gyrus) associated with working memory, short term memory buffers, multisensory integration, and attention. These fNIRS results were tracked closely by NASA TLS measures of mental workload. The results also revealed far less brain activity associated with extraneous load, namely just the right angular gyrus, deemed irrelevant to the mastery of the task.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

Behavioral Outcomes of Human Cognitive Security within an Integrative Modeling Framework

Human decision-making under uncertainty faces growing challenges from information-based threats that pose risks to human cognitive processes and behavior. Although their potential harm is widely acknowledged, there remains no well-defined construct for characterizing the degree to which information-based threats influence changes in human judgments and decision-making, impeding theoretical advancement, measurement, and effective countermeasure development. Here, we introduce a human cognitive security construct focused on linking information-based threats to observable outcomes to bridge field-level definitions with operational measures by drawing from core mechanisms related to information processing and decision-making. To connect the information environment to behavior, we develop an integrative modeling framework that unifies Bayesian inference with affect-modulated decision valuation, capturing how cognitive resource allocation and affective valuation shape three core behavioral outcomes: veracity discernment, task-oriented actions, and information sharing. Through computational simulations, we demonstrate that this framework explains canonical phenomena, including cognitive heuristics, the illusory truth effect (R2=0.86, validated against empirical data), and incongruent veracity discernment and sharing behavior. We propose empirically grounded behavioral outcome measures of cognitive security to guide future empirical examinations. Finally, we outline how environment-specific elements, characterized by data availability and ecological constraints, affect individuals' cognitive security and identify future research directions.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2025

Decision-Making Amid Information-Based Threats in Sociotechnical Systems: A Review

Technological systems increasingly mediate human information exchange, spanning interactions among humans as well as between humans and artificial agents. The unprecedented scale and reliance on information disseminated through these systems substantially expand the scope of information-based influence that can both enable and undermine sound decision-making. Consequently, understanding and protecting decision-making today faces growing challenges, as individuals and organizations must navigate evolving opportunities and information-based threats across varied domains and information environments. While these risks are widely recognized, research remains fragmented: work evaluating information-based threat phenomena has progressed largely in isolation from foundational studies of human information processing. In this review, we synthesize insights from both domains to identify shared cognitive mechanisms that mediate vulnerability to information-based threats and shape behavioral outcomes. Finally, we outline directions for future research aimed at integrating these perspectives, emphasizing the importance of such integration for mitigating human vulnerabilities and aligning human-machine representations.

cs.CY↗