INTRODUCTION: The main aim of this study was to differentiate the magnitude of a pilot's heart rate variability (HRV) when performing assisted and unassisted flights, as well as simple and complex flight tasks. METHODS: Cardiac monitoring in flights was carried out using a compact, mobile ECG recorder. A frequency analysis of the heart rate (HR) signal was performed to determine the ratio of low-frequency spectral power (LF) to high-frequency spectral power (HF). RESULTS: The LF/HF ratio observed in the zone (M=1.047, SD=0.059) was significantly different than the LF/HF calculated preflight (M=0.877, SD=0.043) and postflight (M=0.793, SD=0.037). There was no main effect of the flight type (unassisted zone flight vs. zone flight with an instructor) on the LF/HF parameter. However, greater psychophysiological load of a pilot was observed in the training zone flights when compared to simple circle flights (main effect of the flight type). CONCLUSIONS: As the LF/HF ratio turned out to be significantly higher in the zone than pre- and postflight, this parameter can be useful for predicting the risk of excessive stress and arousal of pilots during flights. Based on the LF/HF ratio we can also estimate difficulty level of flight tasks, because our research has shown higher values of this parameter in the training zone flights than in simple circle flights.
INTRODUCTION: The main aim of this study was to differentiate the magnitude of a pilot's heart rate variability (HRV) when performing assisted and unassisted flights, as well as simple and complex flight tasks. METHODS: Cardiac monitoring in flights was carried out using a compact, mobile ECG recorder. A frequency analysis of the heart rate (HR) signal was performed to determine the ratio of low-frequency spectral power (LF) to high-frequency spectral power (HF). RESULTS: The LF/HF ratio observed in the zone (M=1.047, SD=0.059) was significantly different than the LF/HF calculated preflight (M=0.877, SD=0.043) and postflight (M=0.793, SD=0.037). There was no main effect of the flight type (unassisted zone flight vs. zone flight with an instructor) on the LF/HF parameter. However, greater psychophysiological load of a pilot was observed in the training zone flights when compared to simple circle flights (main effect of the flight type). CONCLUSIONS: As the LF/HF ratio turned out to be significantly higher in the zone than pre- and postflight, this parameter can be useful for predicting the risk of excessive stress and arousal of pilots during flights. Based on the LF/HF ratio we can also estimate difficulty level of flight tasks, because our research has shown higher values of this parameter in the training zone flights than in simple circle flights.
Authors: Lauri Ahonen; Benjamin Cowley; Jari Torniainen; Antti Ukkonen; Arto Vihavainen; Kai Puolamäki Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-07-14 Impact factor: 3.240