The NÖROnoM seminar series hosted another engaging event exploring human performance and the mechanisms underlying brain function. Held on November 11, 2026, the seminar titled “NÖROnoM: From Cockpit to Control Tower: Neuroergonomics and Mental Workload” featured a presentation by Dr. Fehime Utkan Toprak.

Defining neuroergonomics as “studying the brain at work to design systems that align with human cognitive capacities,” Dr. Fehime Utkan Toprak addressed a wide range of topics, from aviation safety to product design. She discussed the effects of linguistic challenges and accent differences in communication between pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) on cognitive processing, drawing on objective measures such as EEG, ECG, eye-blink rate, and acoustic analyses. Through illustrative real-world examples, she explained how communication with non-native English-speaking air traffic controllers can increase pilots’ mental workload.

Moderated by Prof. Dr. Güvem Gümüş Akay, the seminar attracted considerable interest from academics and students. The event concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session and stimulating discussions.

Reflecting NÖROM’s mission to advance neuroscience research and foster interdisciplinary scientific exchange, the NÖROnoM seminar series continues to bring together researchers and students to explore emerging topics in neuroscience.