Increased functional dynamics in civil aviation pilots: Evidence from a neuroimaging study

Abstract

Civil aviation is a distinctive career. Pilots need to monitor the entire system in real time. However, the psychophysiological mechanism of flying is largely unknown. The human brain is a large-scale interconnected organization, and many stable intrinsic large-scale brain networks have been identified. Among them are three core neurocognitive networks: default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), and salience network (SN). These three networks play a critical role in human cognition. This study aims to examine the dynamic properties of the three large-scale brain networks in civil aviation pilots. We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from pilots. Independent component analysis, which is a data-driven approach, was combined with sliding window dynamic functional connectivity analysis to detect the dynamic properties of large-scale brain networks. Our results revealed that pilots exhibit an increased interaction of the CEN with the DMN and the SN along with a decreased interaction within the CEN. In addition, the temporal properties of functional dynamics (number of transitions) increased in pilots compared to healthy controls. In general, pilots exhibited increased between-network functional connectivity, decreased within-network functional connectivity, and a higher number of transitions. These findings suggest that pilots might have better functional dynamics and cognitive flexibility.

Brain structure variability study in pilots based on VBM

“…Changes in cognitive function after hypoxia exposure may be associated with brain function. Xu, Chen et al [5][6][7], conducted a series of functional imaging studies of pilots' brains in the resting and task states. Regarding structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) research on pilots, a study conducted by Adamson MM studied the relationship between pilot flight training and the volume of the hippocampus [8].…”

Flight training changes the brain functional pattern in cadets

“…Our previous studies with pilots had shown that the functional MRI could depict the psychophysiological alterations of flying. The pilots exhibited better functional dynamics and cognitive flexibility ( Chen et al, 2020 ). In the current study, we focused on the cognitive function changes in cadets.…”