Assessment and prevention of inattention and sleepiness during monotonous operator activity with underlying sleep deprivation

The aim of the study was to evaluate psychophysiological predictors of the quality of monotonous activity performance against the background of partial sleep deprivation. Fourteen subjects aged 18–22 years with partial sleep deprivation participated in the experiments. Each subject participated in four experimental sessions with a computer driving simulator: 1—without sleep deprivation, 2—with sleep deprivation, 3—with sleep deprivation and periodic exposure to a massage vibration seat cover, 4—with sleep deprivation and periodic spraying of peppermint oil from an aroma diffuser. Periodically, the subject was required to respond to two types of stimuli. Driving simulator data, 19-channel electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG) and videotape of the subject's face were recorded. Subjects took questionnaires for drowsiness and general well-being, and their reaction time was also tested before the experiment. A statistically significant increase in eye closure percentage and heart rate variability spectral features were detected before the driving errors. High-stress levels and chronic sleep deprivation were detected in the subjects. Against this background, peppermint oil and massage vibration seat cover had no statistically significant effect on the number of errors. The values of physiological indices before errors indicate different causes of errors in experiments. Neither peppermint oil or massage vibration sit cover were effective in preventing errors in case of high stress and chronic sleep deprivation.