Abstract
BackgroundOptimizing performance of aviators while minimizing risks arising from the exposure to extreme environment, both external and internal, is one of the principles guiding the Israeli Air Force. Young cadets in particular are considered an “at risk” population due to the fact that they have no experience in flight in the first stages of training and are therefore subjects for investigation.MethodsIn this study, we investigated the cognitive performance of young cadet pilots across different hours of the day. 39 cadets were randomly divided into 3 groups: morning, late afternoon, and late evening groups and then tested on a cognitive battery that contained both simple performance measures but also complex measures like dual-tasking and mental rotation test.ResultsThe analysis indicated a significant effect of ‘time of day’ on the participants’ accuracy [F (2, 32) = 3.4, p < 0.05]. In a post hoc pairwise t-tests, we found a near significant (p = 0.52) increase in participants’ accuracy and a significant increase [F (2, 32) = 4.5, p < 0.05] in participants’ reaction time in the late evening group as compared to the morning group. We also found a differential effect of dual tasking on accuracy in the different daytimes [F (2, 33) = 5.6, p < 0.01]. In a post hoc analysis, we found that accuracy in the 1-back task deteriorates from single task condition to the dual task condition only in the morning group (p < 0.05), but not in the late evening or late-afternoon group.ConclusionsThis ‘trade-off’ behavior, slowing down in order to perform better, in the late evening group may be a result of a voluntary control mechanism (top-down processes) activated at night, in this group. The combination of feeling fatigue, along with the understanding that complex tasks are more resource consuming, caused the cadets to check and double-check before answering, whereas in the morning group, they felt alert and vital, and acted more reactively, ended in an impulsive manner that caused to inaccurate performance.
Highlights
Optimizing performance of aviators while minimizing risks arising from the exposure to extreme environment, both external and internal, is one of the principles guiding the Israeli Air Force
In order to assess the comparability of the groups, we conducted a series of one-way ANOVAs with Group (07A.M./06P.M./10P.M.) as the between-participant independent variable and task scores (SRT, Choice Reaction Time (CRT), Antisaccade and Go/no-go) as the dependent variables
In a post hoc pairwise t tests with Bonferroni alpha correction for multiple comparisons, we found a near significant (p = 0.52) increase in participants’ accuracy (M = 0.14, SD = 0.05) between the morning group and the late evening group
Summary
Optimizing performance of aviators while minimizing risks arising from the exposure to extreme environment, both external and internal, is one of the principles guiding the Israeli Air Force. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in this field that investigate changes in cognitive control processes across. Braver’s [2] new model of dual mechanisms of control (DMC) is aimed to explain the variability in cognitive control processes. The proactive control is when goal-relevant information is actively maintained in a sustained manner. Gordon et al Disaster and Mil Med (2016) 2:6 until the action is completed whereas in reactive control, attention is recruited in a just in time manner and it is stimulus-driven goal reactivation. The proactive control strategy is strongly resource consuming, requiring continuous goal maintenance, behavior is continually adjusted to facilitate successful completion of the goal. The reactive control strategy has the advantage of being economically-efficient yet sometimes in a price of inaccuracies
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