Research

Monitoring of pre-frontal oxygen status in helicopter pilots using near-infrared spectrophotometers

Azusa Kikukawa^*, Asao Kobayashi^† and Yoshinori Miyamoto^†

• * Corresponding author: Azusa Kikukawa kikukawa4232@inet.asdf.mod.go.jp

• † Equal contributors

Author Affiliations

Aeromedical Laboratory, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan

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Dynamic Medicine 2008, 7:10 doi:10.1186/1476-5918-7-10

Published: 11 July 2008

Abstract

Background

There are few in-flight studies of cognition-related cerebral oxygen status in helicopter pilots.

Methods

Four male helicopter pilots volunteered for nine sorties during visual flight in a BK117 and UH-60J. The pilots' pre-frontal oxy-hemoglobin (O₂Hb) and deoxy-hemoglobin (HHb) concentration were continuously monitored from the right/left sections of the forehead using near-infrared spectrophotometers with a consideration of motion artifacts.

Results

The concentration of O₂Hb progressively increased (13.98 μmol•L^-1 as a maximum increased concentration) in both the right/left sections of the forehead from the basal level during the heightened cognitive demand of helicopter flight. There was comparatively little change (4.32 μmol•L^-1 as a maximum increased concentration) in HHb concentration during measurement of helicopter flight. HHb changes were apparently not affected by a heightened cognitive demand of helicopter pilots.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that near-infrared spectroscopy, especially O₂Hb measurements, provides a sensitive method for the monitoring of cognitive demand (maneuvers) in helicopter pilots.