Effects of age and flight experience on prefrontal cortex activity in airline pilots: An fNIRS study

Abstract

It is essential for airlines to have a deep understanding of the cognitive impact of aging among pilots. The current literature on executive function indicates that compensatory mechanisms in the brain may counteract age-related cognitive decline, at least up to certain task load levels. However, few studies have been administered to evaluate changes in aircrew competence as they age. The present study focuses on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity as it is implicated in cognitive performance and working memory, which are associated with skill proficiency. We measured the DLPFC activity for airline pilots, including trainees, during maneuvering using a flight simulator. Our preliminary results indicated that only expert (aged) pilots demonstrated higher activity of the left DLPFC than the right one. However, for youth trainees, not only was the error rate high while using the flight simulator, but the activity of the DLFPC was also lower than that of the expert pilots, and there was no statistically significant difference between the left and right DLPFC. Although these findings partially differ from those reported in previous studies on age-related changes, it is evident that training as an airline pilot for over 20 years may affect such results. We believe that this noninvasive approach to objective quantification of skill will facilitate the development of effective assessment competence in aging.