title: Workload influence on fatigue related psychological and physiological performance changes of aviators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated a variety of non-invasive physiological technologies and a series of test approaches for examination of aviator performances under conditions of mental workload in order to provide a standard real-time test for physiological and psychological pilot fatigue assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one male aviators were selected for a simulated flight in a hypobaric cabin with artificial altitude conditions of 2400 meter above sea level. The simulated flight lasted for 1.5 h, and was repeated for two times with an intervening 0.5 h rest period outside the hypobaric cabin. Subjective criteria (a fatigue assessment instrument [FAI]) and objective criteria (a standing-position balance test as well as a critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) test) were used for fatigue evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant change was observed in the FAI scores before and after the simulated flight, indicating that there was no subjective fatigue feeling among the participants. However, significant differences were observed in the standing-position balance and CFF tests among the subjects, suggesting that psychophysiological indexes can reflect mental changes caused by workload to a certain extent. The CFF test was the simplest and clearly indicated the occurrence of workload influences on pilot performances after a simulated flight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed that the CFF test was the easiest way to detect workload caused mental changes after a simulated flight in a hypobaric cabin and reflected the psychophysiological state of aviators. We suggest that this test might be used as an effective routine method for evaluating the workload influences on mental conditions of aviators.
authors: Department of Aerospace Medical Equipment, Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University. No 169, Xi'an, China.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Department of experimental surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University. No 1, Xi'an, China.
authors: Ru-Meng
authors: RM
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Basic Nursing, Nursing School, Fourth Military Medical University. No 169, Xi'an, China.
authors: Xi-Wen
authors: XW
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University. No 1, Xi'an, China.
authors: Ka
authors: K
authors: Bian
authors: Department of Aerospace Medical Equipment, Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University. No 169, Xi'an, China.
authors: Zhi-Hong
authors: ZH
authors: Wen
authors: Department of Aerospace Medical Equipment, Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University. No 169, Xi'an, China.
authors: Xiao-Jing
authors: XJ
authors: Li
authors: Department of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University. No 169, Xi'an, China.
authors: Zuo-Ming
authors: ZM
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Aerospace Medical Equipment, Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University. No 169, Xi'an, China.
authors: Wen-Dong
authors: WD
authors: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001359:Aviation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*