Enhancing the training of cognitive skills for improved human reliability: lessons learned from the cognitive environment simulation project

The authors have been involved in a project to model the cognitive activities that underlie operator intention formation during complex nuclear power plant emergencies. The project has involved observation of crew performance in simulated emergencies and development of a computer simulation of operator cognitive performance on the same events. The results of the research point to a number of cognitive skills that are important in handling complex multifault events of the sort that often arise in actual incidents. These cognitive skills are summarized, and an approach to developing training scenarios to enhance these skills and improve human reliability is suggested.<>