Objective: To evaluate symptoms of stress and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in air traffic control (ATC) officers in Brazil. Methods: Fifty-two ATC officers participated, based at three air traffic control units, identified as A, B and C. Stress symptoms were assessed using the Lipp Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults, and EDS by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Results: The sample mean age was 37 years, 76.9% of whom were male. Excessive daytime sleepiness was identified in 25% of the ATC officers, with 84.6% of these based at air traffic control unit A, which has greater air traffic flow, operating a 24-hour alternating work shift schedule. A total of 16% of the ATC officers had stress symptoms, and of these, 62% showed a predominance of physical symptoms. Conclusion: The high percentage of ATC officers with EDS identified in group A may be related to chronodisruption due to night work and alternating shifts.

Introdução.A epilepsia de ausência na infância é um distúrbio neurológico que causa importantes dificuldades biopsicossociais e um atraso no desenvolvimento da aprendizagem. Objetivo. Descrever a importância do diagnóstico precoce e verificar fatores que impactam na aprendizagem em crianças com epilepsia de ausência. Método. Revisão de literatura pertinente acerca da epilepsia de ausência na infância, seu impacto na aprendizagem e respectivas repercussões. Conclusão. Ainda que a epilepsia de ausência possa ser uma condição comum encontrada em crianças, geralmente o seu diagnóstico não costuma ser fácil, o que pode levar a dificuldades no desempenho da aprendizagem. Diante disso, torna-se fundamental que os pais e profissionais envolvidos com a criança tenham pleno conhecimento sobre sua condição, sobre seus aspectos biopsicossociais e que estejam atentos aos sinais de alarme da epilepsia de ausência.

Rev Neurocienc 2014;22(1):80-83 revisão 80 RESUMO Introdução. Pacientes com Epilepsia do Lobo Frontal (ELF), embora geralmentedemonstrem um bom desempenho nos testes tradicionais de memória, apresentam muitos esquecimentos na vida diária, comprometendo sua vida acadêmica, profissional e social. Tais esquecimentos referem-se à Memória Prospectiva (MP), que consiste em recordar, no momento adequado uma intenção a desempenhar no futuro. Objetivo. Este artigo tem como objetivo revisar estudos relacionados à memória prospectiva e seu funcionamento em pacientes com epilepsia de lobo frontal (ELF). Método. Revisão bibliográfica, utilizando artigos de jornais indexados no Scielo e Medline, de 2007 a 2011 no idioma inglês, com os unitermos memória, memória prospectiva, epilepsiae lobo frontal. Resultados. Foram identificados 238 artigos, 23 preencheram os critérios de inclusão.Os estudos evidenciaram a influência dos lobos frontais no desempenho da MP, mas destes poucos abordaram especificamente a ELF. Foi comparado o desempenho relacionado à MP em pacientes com ELF e ELT (Epilepsia de Lobo Temporal) e ambos demonstraram prejuízos na memória da vida diária. Conclusão. O bom desempenho da MP requer o envolvimento das estruturas frontais. Pacientes com epilepsia frontal podem apresentar prejuízos na sua vida diária, tendo dificuldades que atrapalham sua autonomia e independência. ABSTRACTIntroduction. Patients with Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (FLE), although generally demonstrate a good performance on traditional memory tests, show many forgetfulness in daily life, compromising their academic, professional and social life. Such forgetfulness is related to the Prospective Memory (PM), which consist in remembering, on the right moment, an intention to be made in the future. Objective.This article has the purpose of review studies related to the prospective memory and its functioning in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). Method. Literature review, using database Medline and SciELO, from 2007 to 2011 in the English language, with the words memory, prospective memory and frontal lobe epilepsy. Results. 238 articles were identified, 23 met the inclusion criteria. The studies showed the influence of the frontal lobes in the performance of PM, but from these only few specifically addressed the FLE. It was compared the performance related to PM in patients with FLE and TLE (Temporal Lobe Epilepsy) and both showed losses in daily life memory. Conclusion. The good performance of PM requires the involvement of frontal structures. Patients with frontal epilepsy may present impairments in their daily lives, having difficulties which hinder their autonomy and independence.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the executive functions of air traffic controllers (ATCs) in relation to demographic and occupational characteristics such as length of service, technical qualifications, and work shifts.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on a convenience sample with sequential selection of 52 Brazilian ATCs using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), questionnaire applied to the ATCs, Student’s t-test, and one-way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey multiple comparisons of WCST with functional characteristics.RESULTS: ATCs with 0 to 5 yr of service presented scores significantly above the cohort average in the WCST [0-5 yr: 0.54 ± 0.01 vs. 6-15 yr: 0.31 ± 0.52 vs. 151 yr: -0.02 ± 0.80]. ATCs working a 3-shift pattern presented an efficient performance and fewer perseverative errors in the WCST (3-shift: −0.63 ± 0.38 vs. 4-shift: −0.45 ± 0.43), that did not rise to significance. In a comparison between executive brain functions and technical qualifications, the controllers who worked in the TWR (Aerodrome Control Tower) only, and those who worked in both the TWR and APP (Approach Control Service) showed no differences in the number of completed categories and in perseverative errors.DISCUSSION:The executive brain functioning of the ATCs, such as mental flexibility, strategic planning and inhibitory control, were identified as being above average when compared to the general population. While alterations in work shifts appear to have a negative (but nonsignificant) impact, newer ATCs showed stronger scores than more experienced ATCs on the WCST. Successful performance as an ATC has complex foundations, such as understanding the context of air navigation and having strong executive function capabilities.de Freitas AM, Portuguez MW, Russomano, T, da Costa JC. Air traffic controllers and executive brain function. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(5):426–432.