Sensory processing sensitivity predicts pilot decision time via indecisiveness: evidence from flight simulation and...

Area of Science:

• Aviation psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human factors in flight safety

Background:

• Timely decision-making is crucial for aviation safety during emergencies.
• Individual differences in stress response and decision-making abilities exist among pilots.
• Understanding neural mechanisms of decision delay is key for risk mitigation and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) on pilot decision-making under stress.
• To explore the roles of indecisiveness and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation in decision delay.
• To integrate trait, behavioral, and neural factors into a model of aviation decision performance.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-one male cadet pilots were categorized into high- and low-SPS groups.
• Participants completed simulated landing tasks in high- and low-risk scenarios.
• Decision time, flight performance, and DLPFC activation (using fNIRS) were measured.

Main Results:

• High-SPS pilots exhibited significantly longer decision times compared to low-SPS pilots.
• Flight performance was significantly lower in high-SPS pilots under high-risk conditions.
• Indecisiveness mediated the relationship between SPS and decision time; DLPFC activation moderated indecisiveness and decision delay.

Conclusions:

• SPS and indecisiveness jointly impair decision-making and flight performance under stress.
• DLPFC engagement exacerbates decision delays in pilots.
• The study provides a unified model of aviation decision performance integrating individual traits and neural correlates.