Effect of caffeine on simulator flight performance in sleep-deprived military pilot students.
Caffeine has been suggested to act as a countermeasure against fatigue in military operations. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effect of caffeine on simulator flight performance was examined in 13 military pilots during 37 hours of sleep deprivation. Each subject performed a flight mission in simulator four times. The subjects received either a placebo (six subjects) or 200 mg of caffeine (seven subjects) 1 hour before the simulated flights. A moderate 200 mg intake of caffeine was associated with higher axillary temperatures, but it did not affect subjectively assessed sleepiness. Flight performance was similar in both groups during the four rounds flown under sleep deprivation. However, subjective evaluation of overall flight performance in the caffeine group tended to be too optimistic, indicating a potential flight safety problem. Based on our results, we do not recommend using caffeine pills in military flight operations.
Lohi
Jouni J
JJ
Lapland Air Command, Finnish Air Force, Rovaniemi, Finland.
Huttunen
Kerttu H
KH
Lahtinen
Taija M M
TM
Kilpeläinen
Airi A
AA
Muhli
Arto A
AA
Leino
Tuomo K
TK
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine