Pilot age and expertise predict flight simulator performance

Taylor, Joy L.; Kennedy, Quinn; Noda, Art; Yesavage, Jerome A.

doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000255943.10045.c0

Cited by 76 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…A multidisciplinary driving test, including a hazard perception component revealed a group of safe drivers identified potential hazards quicker than unsafe drivers (Wood, Horswill, Lacherez, & Anstey, 2013). Longitudinal assessment using a flight simulator revealed that a group of general aviation expert pilots had better flight summary scores and better execution of aviation communications than a group of less skilled pilots (Taylor, Kennedy, Noda, & Yesavage, 2007). A group of expert law enforcement officers shot more accurately and made fewer decision errors than a group of less skilled officers (Vickers & Lewinski, 2012).…”

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confidence: 98%

Individual differences in highly skilled visual perceptual-motor striking skill

Müller

Brenton

Dempsey

et al. 2015

Atten Percept Psychophys

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Expertise studies into visual perceptual-motor skills have mainly focused their investigation upon group comparisons rather than individual comparisons. This study investigated the pick-up of visual information to time weight transfer and bat kinematics within an exemplar group of striking sport experts using an in situ temporal occlusion paradigm. Highly skilled cricket batsmen faced bowlers and attempted to strike delivered balls, whilst their vision was either temporally occluded through occlusion glasses prior to ball bounce or not occluded (control condition). A chronometric analysis was conducted on trials in the occlusion condition to quantify the pick-up of visual information to time biomechanical variables. Results indicated that initiation of weight transfer and bat downswing, as well as bat downswing completion, was significantly different between some individual batsmen. No significant difference was found between individual batsmen for time of weight transfer completion. Unexpectedly, it was found that achievement of the goal to strike delivered balls, that is, the frequency of bat-ball contacts was not significantly different between batsmen. Collectively, the findings indicate that individual differences exist in the coordination pattern of a complex whole body visual perceptual-motor skill, but these different patterns are used to achieve a similar outcome, which is known as motor equivalence.

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confidence: 98%

Individual differences in highly skilled visual perceptual-motor striking skill

Müller

Brenton

Dempsey

et al. 2015

Atten Percept Psychophys

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“…For over 10 years, we have studied a cohort of aviators aged 40-70 years and more to better understand how their flight simulator performance changes as they approach and pass through their 60s (e.g., Taylor, Kennedy, Noda, & Yesavage, 2007;Yesavage, Taylor, Mumenthaler, Noda, & O'Hara, 1999). The purpose of the present work was to test the hypothesis that baseline cognitive processing speed and pilot expertise predict age-related change in aviator performance.…”

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confidence: 99%

Initial Cognitive Performance Predicts Longitudinal Aviator Performance

Yesavage

Adamson

et al. 2011

The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences an

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P ROCESSING-SPEED theory proposes that much of the age-related decline observed in measures of fluid cognition can be accounted for by age-related slowing in the speed of elementary cognitive operations (Salthouse, 1996). A large body of research shows that both behavioral and brain measures of processing speed can account for a substantial proportion of age-related variance in fluid cognitive abilities (e.g., Birren & Fisher, 1995;Bucur et al., 2008;Kwong See & Ryan, 1995;Lindenberger, Mayr, & Kliegl, 1993;Salthouse, 1991;Taylor, O'Hara, Mumenthaler, Rosen, & Yesavage, 2005;Walhovd et al., 2005). Recently, a large study of twins confirmed that genetic variance for processing speed was a leading indicator of variation in a number of age-related cognitive changes (Finkel, Reynolds, McArdle, Hamagami, & Pedersen, 2009).Nonetheless, a processing speed model alone does not necessarily explain certain aspects of normal age-related decline in fluid abilities (Bugg, Zook, DeLosh, Davalos, & Davis, 2006;Schaie, 1989;Schretlen et al., 2000). In particular, decline in executive function has been proposed as a second mechanism underlying age-related decline in fluid cognition (Buckner, 2004;Dempster, 1992; Hasher & Zacks, 1988;Hasher, Zacks, & May, 1999;West, 1996).Although the best way to measure executive function remains a challenge, it has been suggested that executive function be characterized as a collection of related cognitive control processes, in particular, "updating" working memory representations, "shifting" mental set, "inhibiting" automatic or prepotent response to irrelevant information, and "coordinating" complex, sequential behaviors to reach a goal (Friedman et al., 2008). A number of behavioral and neuroimaging studies have demonstrated links among executive control processes and age-related differences in performance of working memory and episodic memory tasks that stress interference, temporal processing, recollection, or contextual binding (Gray, Chabris, & Braver, 2003;Gunning-Dixon & Raz, 2003;Head, Kennedy, Rodrigue, & Raz, 2009;Hedden & Park, 2001;Kwong See & Ryan, 1995;Taylor et al., 2005). Together the results of these studies imply that when examining the explanatory power of processing speed, it may be advantageous to also examine other cognitive abilities, such as executive function.Relatively few studies have examined the processingspeed theory from a longitudinal perspective (Hertzog, Dixon, Hultsch, & MacDonald, 2003;Schaie, 1989;Zimprich & Martin, 2002 Objectives. The goal of the study was to improve prediction of longitudinal flight simulator performance by studying cognitive factors that may moderate the influence of chronological age.Method. We examined age-related change in aviation performance in aircraft pilots in relation to baseline cognitive ability measures and aviation expertise. Participants were aircraft pilots (N = 276) aged 40-77.9. Flight simulator performance and cognition were tested yearly; there were an average of 4.3 (± 2.7; range 1-13) data points per participant. ...

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“…Spearman's Rho indicated that there was not a significant (with 5%) association between total flight hours and pilot age (Spearman's = .430, p = .063). With age, processing speed (how fast the brain works) slows down, and older pilots are no exception from this pattern (Taylor Kennedy, Noda and Yesavage, (2007); Kennedy, Taylor, Reade, and Yesavage (2010). ).…”

Section: Subjectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As expected, there was a trend for a positive correlation between flight hours and pilot age. Older pilots typically have had more time to accrue flight hours (Taylor et al, 2007). Analyses revealed that the correlations between (1) the eye tracking parameters and total flight hours and (2) Two case studies were investigated.…”

Section: E Exploratory Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Helicopter Pilot Scan Techniques While Flying at Low Altitudes and High Speed

Kirby

2013

AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics (AFM) Conference

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Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to This study compared how non-experienced and experienced pilots reacted in terms of their scan patterns during a simulated high speed low level flight. The focus of this study was specifically on the flight regimes encountered by helicopter pilots. Information obtained from this research may aid training effectiveness specific to helicopter aviation. Methods: There were 17 military officers, all active-duty Navy helicopter pilots, who all had different levels of flight experience based on their total flight times. Each pilot was asked to successfully fly and navigate a course through a simulated southern Californian desert in a fixed-based helicopter simulator modeled after the U.S. Navy's MH-60S. The location of their scan was tracked by an eye-tracking system in order to determine scan rate and locations while they flew the course. All of the flight parameters, such as airspeed and altitude, were recorded by the simulator's recording system. Results: Analysis of the results obtained from the eye tracking system indicated a decreasing relationship between scan rate and pilot experience, indicating that the scan rate decreases as a pilot becomes more experienced. The analysis uses altitude variance as a measure of performance. Results indicate that higher scan rates correlate with higher degrees of variance in the altitude, indicating that a quicker scan does not necessarily result in better performance. The higher experienced pilots show a lower altitude variance overall (they were more consistent in maintaining a constant altitude above the ground), yet those pilots all exhibited slower scan rates. Discussion: The integration of the eye tracking technology with a simulator representing an aircraft currently in service was a success. Although none of the null hypotheses presented were rejected, trends were evident in scan rates when compared with pilot experience. The relatively small sample size was identified as the major causal factor for the lack of significance. SUBJECT TERMS ABSTRACTThis study compared how non-experienced and experienced pilots reacted in terms of their scan patterns during a simulated high speed low level flight. The focus of this study was specifically on the flight regimes encountered by helicopter pilots. Information obtained from this research may aid training effectiveness specific to helicopter aviation.Methods: There were 17 military officers, all active-duty Navy helicopter pilots, who all had different levels of flight experience based on their total flight times. Each pilot was asked to successfully fly and navigate a course through a simulated sout...

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Pilot age and expertise predict flight simulator performance

Cited by 76 publications

References 43 publications

Individual differences in highly skilled visual perceptual-motor striking skill

Individual differences in highly skilled visual perceptual-motor striking skill

Initial Cognitive Performance Predicts Longitudinal Aviator Performance

An Analysis of Helicopter Pilot Scan Techniques While Flying at Low Altitudes and High Speed

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