Differences in selective attention-related brain functions in pilots for different types of aircraft
MENG Bin
ZHU Yuanqiang
WU Xiangbo
BAI Bo
LI Kun
XUE Baijie
HE Xia
HUANG Dongying
JIAO Weina
YUAN Hua
SUN Xiaolong
Abstract：Objective To study the differences in brain functions between pilots of different aircraft types when performing selective tasks,and to analyze the correlations between related indicators and cardiopulmonary exercise testing so as to provide data for daily training and selection of pilots.Methods Fourteen pilots(8 fighter pilots and 6 transport pilots)and 9 healthy subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)scan and cardiopulmonary exercise testing(CPET)during selective tasks.The activated brain regions were located,while the relationships between the degree of activation of brain regions and the cardiopulmonary exercise testing were analyzed.Results The response of the left middle frontal gyrus,anaerobic threshold,relative anaerobic threshold and maximum oxygen pulse level of cardiopulmonary function of the pilot group were higher than those of healthy controls(t=4.215,3.898,4.231,2.386,all P＜0.05).There was no difference in the extent to which the left middle frontal gyrus was activated between pilots of different aircraft(P＞0.05),and the anaerobic threshold of the transport pilots was higher than that of fighter pilots(t=-2.611,P=0.023).The response of the left middle frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the anaerobic threshold(r=-0.242,P=0.043).Conclusion The left middle frontal gyrus may be a key brain area for selective attention among pilots,and anti-load training may help fighter pilots keep the left middle frontal gyrus highly activated.
Keywords：Choosing attentionTask functional magnetic resonance imagingExercise cardiopulmonary experimentsPilots
Publication Date：2025-12-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-31(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 565-569 )