Collection of Real-Time, Multichannel EEG Data from Helicopter Pilots in Flight: A Feasibility Study

An initial assessment of whether valid electroencephalographic (EEG) data could be collected on helicopter pilots in flight was conducted using 20 volunteers. Each subject provided a brief eyes-open and eyes-closed EEG in the laboratory and then in a helicopter. During helicopter flights, data were...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Caldwell, Jr , John A, Lewis, James A, Darling, Stephen R, Dillard, Robert M, Johnson, Parley P
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY
HELICOPTERS
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Medicine and Medical Research
MILITARY PERSONNEL
PE62787A
PILOTS
Psychology
VOLUNTEERS
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Summary:An initial assessment of whether valid electroencephalographic (EEG) data could be collected on helicopter pilots in flight was conducted using 20 volunteers. Each subject provided a brief eyes-open and eyes-closed EEG in the laboratory and then in a helicopter. During helicopter flights, data were monitored and recorded on the ground in real-time via a radio telemetry system. Initial hardware problems resulted in the exclusion of several records, but these problems were resolved toward the end of the study. Analysis of the remaining acceptable EEG records indicated that the typical increase in alpha activity (7.5-13.0 Hz) due to eye closure was clearly observable at every analyzed electrode site regardless of whether the testing occurred in the laboratory or in the helicopter. Further examinations of delta, theta, and beta bands showed that the EEG data were not overly contaminated by artifacts, although it was much more difficult to find 'clean' segments on records collected in the helicopter than in the laboratory. It was concluded that it is possible to record and telemeter useable EEG from the in-flight helicopter environment.