Monitoring of pre-frontal oxygen status in helicopter pilots using near-infrared spectrophotometers.
BACKGROUND
There are few in-flight studies of cognition-related cerebral oxygen status in helicopter pilots.


METHODS
Four male helicopter pilots volunteered for nine sorties during visual flight in a BK117 and UH-60J. The pilots' pre-frontal oxy-hemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxy-hemoglobin (HHb) concentration were continuously monitored from the right/left sections of the forehead using near-infrared spectrophotometers with a consideration of motion artifacts.


RESULTS
The concentration of O2Hb progressively increased (13.98 micromol*L-1 as a maximum increased concentration) in both the right/left sections of the forehead from the basal level during the heightened cognitive demand of helicopter flight. There was comparatively little change (4.32 micromol*L-1 as a maximum increased concentration) in HHb concentration during measurement of helicopter flight. HHb changes were apparently not affected by a heightened cognitive demand of helicopter pilots.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that near-infrared spectroscopy, especially O2Hb measurements, provides a sensitive method for the monitoring of cognitive demand (maneuvers) in helicopter pilots.
Kikukawa
Azusa
A
Aeromedical Laboratory, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.
Kobayashi
Asao
A
Aeromedical Laboratory, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.
Miyamoto
Yoshinori
Y
Aeromedical Laboratory, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.