Task complexity modulates pilot electroencephalographic activity during real flights

Abstract

Most research connecting task performance and neural activity to date has been conducted in laboratory conditions. Thus, field studies remain scarce, especially in extreme conditions such as during real flights. Here, we investigated the effects of flight procedures of varied complexity on the in-flight EEG activity of military helicopter pilots. Flight procedural complexity modulated the EEG power spectrum: highly demanding procedures (i.e., takeoff and landing) were associated with higher EEG power in the higher frequency bands, whereas less demanding procedures (i.e., flight exercises) were associated with lower EEG power over the same frequency bands. These results suggest that EEG recordings may help to evaluate an operator's cognitive performance in challenging real-life scenarios, and thus could aid in the prevention of catastrophic events.

Effects of long and short simulated flights on the saccadic eye movement velocity of aviators

“…This difference was significant for long simulated flights only, indicating that fatigue associated with sessions of more than one hour was demonstrable. Because pilots simulated air-combat maneuvers and emergency checklist procedures, it is highly improbable that they felt bored during the simulated flight [52]. Therefore, the decrease in saccadic velocities observed here is most parsimoniously explained by TOF, rather than boredom..…”

Gaze entropy reflects surgical task load

“…Before the experiment, each resident filled in the Stanford Sleepiness Scale [43] (SSS) for screening purposes. No participants scored [3 (had they done so, they would have been excluded from further testing [44,45]). All participants were naive to the aim of the experiment.…”

EEG Theta Power Activity Reflects Workload among Army Combat Drivers: An Experimental Study

“…The physiological and psychological demands of warfare are extreme and, for warfighters, are often overwhelming [1][2][3]. As operator resources are limited [4], circumstances that demand extra resources, either physical or mental, may increase the workload and, consequently, compromise operational safety [5,6]. Therefore, the armed forces are committed to finding solutions to lighten warfighters' workload [7,8].…”