Microstates in complex and dynamical environments: Unraveling situational awareness in critical helicopter landing maneuvers

Abstract

Understanding decision‐making in complex and dynamic environments is relevant for designing strategies targeting safety improvements and error rate reductions. However, studies evaluating brain dynamics in realistic situations are scarce in the literature. Given the evidence that specific microstates may be associated with perception and attention, in this work we explored for the first time the application of the microstate model in an ecological, dynamic and complex scenario. More specifically, we evaluated elite helicopter pilots during engine‐failure missions in the vicinity of the so called “dead man's curve,” which establishes the operational limits for a safe landing after the execution of a recovery maneuver (autorotation). Pilots from the Brazilian Air Force flew a AS‐350 helicopter in a certified aerodrome and physiological sensor data were synchronized with the aircraft's flight test instrumentation. We assessed these neural correlates during maneuver execution, by comparing their modulations and source reconstructed activity with baseline epochs before and after flights. We show that the topographies of our microstate templates with 4, 5, and 6 classes resemble the literature, and that a distinct modulation characterizes decision‐making intervals. Moreover, the source reconstruction result points to a differential activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, which is associated to emotional regulation circuits in the brain. Our results suggest that microstates are promising neural correlates to evaluate realistic situations, even in a challenging and intrinsically noisy environment. Furthermore, it strengthens their usage and expands their application for studying cognition under more realistic conditions.

EEG Based Dynamic Functional Connectivity Analysis in Mental Workload Tasks With Different Types of Information

“…Various studies implied that the dynamic properties of EEG microstates can effectively reflect the change of brain state when operators were performing tasks. Deolindo [34] found that the dynamic properties of microstates can be used to distinguish the situation awareness levels of helicopter pilots. Krylova's research showed that the microstate metrics were statistically correlated with the vigilance level of human [35].…”

Electrocorticographic activation patterns during electroencephalographic microstates

“…The rst study investigating the BOLD correlates of EEG microstates found them to be associated with both increases and decreases in the bold signal (Britz, Van De Ville, & Michel, 2010). Deolindo et al observed that a microstate class associated with activation of the medial prefrontal cortex and attentional functions decreased while helicopter pilots conducted complex and potentially life-threatening maneuvers (Deolindo et al, 2021). Rajkumar et al…”

Quantitative assessment of pilot-endured workloads during helicopter flying emergencies: an analysis of physiological parameters during an autorotation

“…Here we report on the analyzed data from the EDA, and heartbeat and breathing frequency of the pilots. The EEG data is presented elsewhere 37 .…”