Advancing Intelligent Cognitive Load Sensing and Adaptive Scaffolding to Support Collaborative Simulation-based Learning in High-Stakes Environments

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $900,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

When clinicians receive high-quality team training for managing healthcare emergencies, such as in-hospital cardiac arrests, patients have a better chance of surviving. However, the high cognitive demands involved in complex decision making and team management can harm performance, particularly among healthcare professionals in training or in new roles. This project aims to understand and improve how medical professionals learn to work as an effective team by detecting and managing the mental demands they face during high-stakes events. By leveraging multimodal data (e.g., heart rate, speech, gaze) within team-based immersive virtual reality, this project enables trainee teams to practice in a controlled, simulated environment while receiving "just enough, just in time, and just for you" feedback at both individual and team levels. The ultimate goal is to equip trainees with strategies for making rapid, accurate, and repeatable decisions while effectively executing tasks to save lives. The project's outputs, including an open-source database documenting types of cognitive load triggers and corresponding strategies for regulating cognitive load, are designed to support a wide range of stakeholders, including medical educators, quality and safety professionals, human factors engineers, and those developing cardiac arrest response guidelines. The training methods developed in this research could also benefit other fields that rely on expert teams, including aviation, emergency

Key facts

NSF award ID
2506865
Awardee
Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (MI)
SAM.gov UEI
GNJ7BBP73WE9
PI
Vitaliy Popov
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
—
Estimated total
$900,000
Funds obligated
$900,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
10/01/2025 → 09/30/2028