Efficiency of Electrical Tranquilization of the Central Nervous System in Combination with Vestibular Training to Improve the Statokinetic Stability

Abstract

Improvement of statokinetic stability is a pressing problem of aviation medicine in view of progress in aviation engineering. As the speed and maneuver capability of aircrafts grew, the conflict between a continuous increase in available power and constant psychophysiological abilities of the human body becomes inevitably harder. Statistics evidences that 49.0% of aviation accidents are due to erroneous actions of pilots. Today, tough mental activity is involved in an aviator’s labor, while the body is affected by a broad variety of flight-related factors. Information flow analysis, instant decision making, and control of aircraft strain the psychophysiological human abilities to their limit. All aircrew members must keep being professionally effective throughout the mission. This circumstance warrants the development of appropriate means and methods to improve the statokinetic stability in air and space crews. The objective of this work was to study the psychophysiological dynamics during statokinetic perturbations prior to and after a course of electrical tranquilization of the central nervous system (CNS) in combination with modified Yarotsky’s test (MYT). Statokinetic perturbations were modeled using a continuous Coriolis acceleration accumulation test (CAAT) in a rotating chair. The indices under study included the maximum CAAT tolerance time and the strengths of vestibular sensory, vestibular vegetative, and vestibular somatic reactions. Functional characteristics were tested using complex functional computer stabilography (CFCS). An analysis of the results led to the conclusion that a course of CNS electrical tranquilization in combination with MYT is highly efficient.