Neuroergonomics is the study of effectively apply state-of-the-art methods and theories from neuroscience to understand how the brain works in everyday life.
Traditional ergonomic studies rely predominantly on psychological explanations to address human factors issues such as: work performance, operational safety, and workplace-related risks .
Neuroergonomics, in contrast, addresses the biological substrates of ergonomic concerns, with an emphasis on the role of the human nervous system.
The goal of combining neuroscience with Human Factors (and Ergonomics) is to use the discoveries of the human brain and physiological functioning both to inform the design of technologies in the workplace and home, and to provide new training methods that enhance performance, expand capabilities, and optimize the fit between people and technology.
Findings obtained in work-defined settings often inform and challenge our understanding of what work means in terms of neural mechanisms.
Research in the neuroergonomics field has become more prevalent with the emergence of noninvasive techniques for monitoring human brain function that can be used to study various aspects of human behavior in relation to technology and work, including mental workload, visual attention, working memory, motor control, human-automation interaction, and adaptive automation.