Characterizing Spatial Disorientation in Flight Simulation Through Electroencephalogram Trends

Spatial disorientation (SD) remains a persistent threat to aviation safety, particularly during transitions from visual to instrument meteorological conditions. This study investigated the physiological and cognitive effects of an induced SD illusion during simulated flight using multimodal sensor data.

Five instrument-rated fixed-wing pilots each completed two simulator flights, one containing decoupled motion cues designed to elicit SD. Physiological data were collected using electroencephalogram (EEG) and cardiorespiratory monitoring, while subjective cognitive load and situational awareness were measured with the NASA Task Load Index and Situational Awareness Rating Technique surveys. Data were analyzed using general linear models within a Bayesian framework, incorporating EEG power metrics and cardiorespiratory signals such as heart rate and respiratory rate.

Posterior inference identified increases of normalized heart rate by 0.87 and normalized respiratory rate by 0.46 during SD events, indicating sympathetic activation. F3 and F4 EEG channels exhibited asymmetrical signal changes during disorientation, with a normalized power difference of up to 0.86 compared to Fz. Comparative models showed the importance of residual covariance estimation for EEG data, with a difference in standard error of up to 71.3 between models. Performance metrics alone were insufficient to infer disorientation, as pilot performance varied independently of reported SD.

Findings demonstrate that physiological data capture state changes during disorientation and support development of adaptive, low-intervention SD countermeasures. Results underscore the value of human-centered, data-driven analysis in aviation safety and provide a scalable framework for SD detection and mitigation. Rouser BP, Rock LD, Paul RC, Jurewicz KA. Characterizing spatial disorientation in flight simulation through electroencephalogram trends. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2026; 97(2):84-92.