Effects of simulated flight task on autonomic function after sleep deprivation:a study using heart rate variability and self-report measures
CHEN Xiangning
BU Yingrui
LI Peijie
XU Wenchao
SONG Yichen
CHENG Jiuhua
ZHANG Lin
ZHANG Xuesi
LIN Wei
XIE Manjiang
XUE Junhui
Abstract：Objective To study the influence of mental fatigue on heart rate variability(HRV)and the changes in HRV after the addition of moderate task load.Methods Sixteen subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to a sleep deprivation-only group and a sleep deprivation+simulated flight group(referred to as the simulated flight group for short).A self-controlled design was adopted.The ECG signals were recorded for all subjects both before and 24 h after sleep deprivation.The simulated flight group performed a simulated flight task while collecting the signals.Paired t-tests were used to analyze the differences in heart rate and HRV between the two groups before and after sleep deprivation,while independent sample t-tests were used to analyze the differences in heart rate and HRV between the two groups after sleep deprivation.All subjects completed subjective fatigue scales after the collection of ECG signals.Results Compared to pre-deprivation,both groups showed a significant decrease in heart rate(P<0.05)and a significant increase in subjective fatigue levels after sleep deprivation(P<0.01).HRV time-domain and frequency-domain indices were significantly increased,while the LF/HF ratio was significantly decreased(P<0.05).After sleep deprivation,compared to the sleep deprivation-only group,the simulated flight group showed an increasing trend in heart rate(P=0.254 5),a significant decrease in HRV time-domain indices(P<0.05),a decreasing trend in VLF,LF,and HF frequency-domain indices(P=0.877 9,P=0.217 0,P=0.189 8),and a significant increase in the LF/HF ratio(P<0.05).Conclusion Under fatigue,heart rate decreases,while both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activities increase,with a shift towards parasympathetic dominance.Administering a simulated flight task under a fatigued state can shift autonomic nervous activity towards sympathetic dominance,enhance stress response capacity,and improve autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
Keywords：heart rate variabilityheart ratesleep deprivationsimulated flighttask loadfatigueautonomic nervous systemself-report scales
Publication Date：2026-01-31
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 39-45 )