Monitoring of pre-frontal oxygen status in helicopter pilots using near-infrared spectrophotometers
Azusa Kikukawa1, Asao Kobayashi1, Yoshinori Miyamoto1
1Aeromedical Laboratory, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan.
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.
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that near-infrared spectroscopy, especially O2Hb measurements, provides a sensitive method for the monitoring of cognitive demand (maneuvers) in helicopter pilots.
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