Nikol Figalová

I am a neuroergonomic researcher focusig
on human-machine interaction.

ABOUT ME

Hi! My name is Nikol and I come from the Czech Republic. I am a research assistant and a PhD candidate at Ulm University in southern Germany.

I have a MSc degree in Psychology. I study human-machine interaction, currently focusing the interactions between drivers and automated vehicles. I am interested in neuroergonomics, human factors, and cognitive psychology.

My research utilizes psychophysiological measures such as EEG, ECG, and eye-tracking.

My goal is to understand the cognitive processes underlying the human-machine interaction, and therefore contribute to the design of safe, user-centred, and efficient technological systems.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal papers

Figalová, N., Chuang, L. L., Pichen, J., Baumann, M., & Pollatos, O. (2022). Ambient Light Conveying Reliability Improves Drivers’ Takeover Performance without Increasing Mental Workload. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 6(9), 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/mti6090073
Open pdf
Liu, Y. C., Figalová, N., & Bengler, K. (2022). Transparency Assessment on Level 2 Automated Vehicle HMIs. Information, 13(10), 489. https://doi.org/10.3390/info13100489
Open pdf
Figalová, N., & Charvát, M. (2021). The perceived stress scale: Reliability and validity study in the Czech Republic. Ceskoslovenska Psychologie, 65(1), 46–59. https://doi.org/10.51561/cspsych.65.1.46
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Conference papers & Extended abstracts

Figalová, N., Bieg, H.-J., Schulz, M., Pichen, J., Baumann, M., Chuang, L. L., & Pollatos, O. (2023). Fatigue and mental underload further pronounced in L3 conditionally automated driving: Results from an EEG experiment on a test track. 28th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1145/3581754.3584133
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Figalová, N., Pichen, J., L Chuang, L., Baumann, M., & Pollatos, O. (2022). System immersion of a driving simulator affects the oscillatory brain activity. Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering. https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1001825
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Pichen, J., Figalová, N., & Baumann, M. (2022). Should I stay or Should I go? Using a Cooperative Sneak Peek Interface in Highly Automated Vehicles. Human Factors and Systems Interaction. https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1002164
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Figalová, N., Delp, A. L., Nick, A., Chuang, L. L., Baumann, M., & Pollatos, O. (2021). Alpha and Theta Power in Repeated Take-over Requests. 3^rd Neuroergonomics conference. Munich, Germany. Available from https://neuroergonomicsconference.um.ifi.lmu.de/wp-content/uploads/submissions/197.pdf
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Posters

Figalová, N. & Bieg, H. J. (2022). How drivers allocate their attentional resources when operating an automated and manual vehicle: An EEG experiment. Project RUMBA Mid term meeting. Renningen, Germany.
Open poster
Pichen, J., Figalová, N., Pollatos, O., & Baumann, M. (2022). Increasing situation awareness through cooperative driving (poster). 7^th International conference on traffic and transport psychology. Gothenburg, Sweeden.

Preprints

Figalová, N., Silva, J., & Charvat, M. (2021). Psychometric Properties of the Perceived Stress Scale in an Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Sample. 10.13140/RG.2.2.26733.51685
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RESUME

Education

2020 – present

PhD Candidate (Dr.phil.)
Dept. of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

My project is focused on understanding the cognitive processes underlying the interaction between a driver and an automated vehicle using neuroergonomics (EEG & ERPs). The project is supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks project SHAPE-IT, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme (grant agreement No. 860410).

2016 – 2019

Master of Science (MSc.)
Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic

My Master thesis topic was Translation and psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Perceived Stress Scale
Open pdf

2013 – 2016

Bachelor of Science (BSc.)
Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic

My Bachelor thesis topic was Stress and health in demanding occupation
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Research Experience

06/2022 – 09/2022

Robert Bosch, GmbH
Internee at the Department of Software Engineering & User Experience; Renningen, Germany

As a lead of a project, I designed and conducted a test-track experiment utilizing a prototype of an automated vehicle and EEG. The internship was conducted within the SHAPE-IT project.

11-2019 – 02/2020

University of Lisbon, Faculty of Psychology
Junior research assistant at the Voice, Emotion, & Speech Neuroscience Lab; Lisbon, Portugal

During my time at the lab, I learned the basics of EEG data collection and analysis and assisted in several studies.

12/2017 – 02/2020

Olomouc University Social Health Institute
Research assistant within the Czech branch of the project Hea l thTalk; Olomouc, Czech Republic

In collaboration with Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, we carried out a project aimed to provide balanced and accurate information, peer experience, and psychosocial support to people diagnosed with an illness.

11/2018 – 06/2019

Czech National Institute for Education
Research assistant; Prague, Czech Republic

During my time at the institute, I collected and analysed data using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF). The goal of the project was to standardise the test in Czech pre-school population.

CONTACT

If you wish to contact me, please send me an email. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
nikol.figalova@uni-ulm.de

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