Changes of cognitive functions of pilots who suffered from tension type headache

Abstract

Objective To access the changes of cognitive functions of pilots who suffered from tension type headache (TTH). Methods Eleven pilots, who were hospitalized due to TTH from January of 2006 to December of 2007, were selected as TTH group while another ten pilots who came for physical examination were in controls (CON). They were tested by psychological apparatuses included indiscervible critical flicker frequency, selective reaction time, attention focusing ability, memory ability, vigilance, aural Oddball task, visual Sterberg task and manual tracking plus aural Oddball task. Results The indiscervible critical flicker frequency of TTH is significantly lower than that of CON (t=2.212, P<0.05); the reaction time to red lamp, yellow lamp and green lamp are significantly longer than those of CON (t = 2. 681, 2. 999, 2. 409;P< 0.05); in attention focusing ability tests,the attention focusing time is significantly shorter than that of CON (t= 3.718, P< 0. 01); while the error times is more than that of CON (t=4. 533, P<0. 01). The reaction time of aural Oddball task and the reaction time of visual Sterberg task are significantly longer than those of CON (t=2.221,2.172, P<0.05). Conclusion TTH results in pilots' some cognitive functions decreased. Key words: Tension-type headache; Cognition; Physical examination