Aerospace medicine and human performance最新文献

Introduction: Intense light exposures can cause temporary flash blindness, degrading pilot performance during flight. The present study investigated factors influencing time to recover from flash blindness for tasks resembling aircraft control using an attitude indicator. Prior similar studies of flash blindness used only reflective gauges whereas modern cockpits include emissive displays, so recovery differences between reflective and emissive instrument types were of interest as was the influence of varying ambient luminance levels.

Methods: Nine subjects performed attitude indicator horizon stabilization and tracking tasks on both a reflective and an emissive attitude indicator. Subjects were exposed to short (150 ms) high intensity broadband light flashes at three retinal exposure levels [6.5, 7.0, and 7.5 log troland-seconds (logTd·s)] beforehand. Additionally, ambient luminance was manipulated (1 cd · m-2, 10 cd · m-2, and 100 cd · m-2). The time to level the horizon after a flash exposure was measured. After leveling, roll and pitch errors made while maintaining straight and level flight by countering added perturbation were also tracked.

Results: Greater flash intensity usually increased recovery time. For the reflective attitude indicator, as ambient luminance increased, flash intensity had weaker influence on recovery times, with recovery times ranging from 6-30 s. For the emissive attitude indicator, however, ambient luminance did not appreciably influence recovery times, with recovery times ranging from 8-16 s.

Discussion: The reflective attitude indicator was more advantageous for flash blindness recovery in high (100 cd · m-2) ambient luminance and the emissive indicator was relatively more advantageous in low (1 cd · m-2) ambient luminance. Arizpe JM, McAnally RE, Hart MV, Kuyk TK, Smith PA, Goettl BP. Flash blindness recovery of a tracking task on cockpit attitude indicators. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(12):1032-1042.

Background: Attenuation of sleep disordered breathing in astronauts entering microgravity was previously reported during shuttle missions. However, the impacts of microgravity on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have not previously been quantified.

Case report: An astronaut with OSA participated in the noninvasive assessment of multiple physiological variables using the Bio-Monitor biometric shirt before, twice during, and after a 6-mo mission to the International Space Station. Cardiorespiratory variables, including electrocardiogram, respiratory rate and tidal volume, oxygen saturation, and activity, were measured and allowed for the assessment of apneic events and cardiac arrhythmias before, during, and after the mission.

Discussion: While in the microgravity environment, apneic and desaturation events completely resolved, reoccurring immediately following landing. Associated electrophysiological features, including complete heart block, were not temporally associated with apneic or desaturation events when present, persisting even when OSA was absent. The participant's use of hypnotic medication in the evening prior to data collection toward the end of flight may have contributed to sporadic apneic episodes, and to longer QT intervals exhibited at that specific timepoint. Mastrandrea CJ, Rabineau J, Greaves D, Hughson RL. Bio-monitor detects reduced obstructive sleep apnea and susceptibility to arrhythmia in spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(12):1084-1089.

Introduction: Recent studies of quick-don aviator masks have challenged the traditional view that beards promote unacceptable leaks in close-fitting masks, suggesting instead that adequate respiratory protection remains. This new review aims to establish an updated position based on all available studies of close-fitting masks in bearded users.

Methods: Systematic searches identified eligible studies that evaluated the seal of close-fitting masks, intended to achieve optimal respiratory protection, in the presence of facial hair. Study quality was graded against five criteria: 1) study design (controls); 2) mask testing schedule; 3) bearded cohort size; 4) leak measurement method; and 5) representative testing (increased ventilatory demand, movements, and speech). Consideration was given to data meta-analysis.

Results: Of 21 discrete studies, 5 are rated high quality, 8 medium, and 8 low quality. Overwhelmingly, they indicate that facial hair can seriously degrade the performance of close-fitting masks, with relevant factors including beard age, hair length, and density. Early hair growth (days, possibly hours) can compromise seals at ambient gas supply pressure, with positive (safety) pressure supplies vulnerable to established beards, particularly at lower flow rates and increased ventilatory demands. Mask protection factors may degrade with facial hair by two or more orders of magnitude.

Discussion: Safety-critical close-fitting masks require a skin-tight seal. Mask seal integrity with facial hair is highly variable between individuals, between masks, and from one wear to the next. Quick-don close-fitting oxygen masks, required in aviation emergencies, will not function reliably unless the user is clean-shaven where the mask seal contacts the skin. Connolly D, Sheppard-Hickey R, Powell D, Lupa H. Sealing properties of close-fitting masks worn over facial hair. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(12):1069-1078.

Introduction: Aviation operations require clear visual perception and precise sensorimotor interaction with aircraft controls, which both vary with neurophysiological state. Operational risk management surveys for military aviation assay several categories of risk factors, including environmental, human, and mission factors. Several human risk factors, such as poor sleep and stress, have neurophysiological effects. Yet human risk factors are routinely self-reported by pilots, which can introduce uncertainty. We evaluated an objective, automated, eye-movement-based method to assess neurophysiological variability in military aircrews.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 72 members from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade representing RQ7B, AH64, CH47, and H60 airframe communities, we used a validated eye-movement-based "oculometric" assessment method to quantify performance on a visual motion tracking task as well as a brief survey to document demographic (e.g., age, military occupational specialty, airframe, flight hours) and operational risk management (e.g., sleep, stress, ops tempo, experience, currency) variables. From the task, 10 z-scored oculometric measures are computed, including a summary score.

Results: We observed a significant effect of aircraft type on oculometric performance, with the H60 community performing above normal (median summary score: 0.59), as well as effects of sleep, stress, and experience. We observed significant positive correlations between oculometric scores and both age (Pearson's r: 0.31) and flight hours (Pearson's r: 0.30).

Discussion: Some elements of human factors risk can be measured using eye-movement-based techniques. Automated eye-movement-based assessment tools can quantify neurophysiological state objectively, a potential alternative to self-report. Al-Husseini M, McGuire M, Kennedy Q, Belanger C, Liston D. Oculometric assessment of human risk factors in military aviation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(12):1056-1062.

Introduction: Exposure to microgravity has physiological consequences that can impair astronaut safety and performance. Many can be directly linked to fluctuations in plasma serotonin levels on Earth, like bone loss, nausea, and fatigue. Yet the metabolic activity of serotonin in space is not well known. This study measured plasma serotonin levels and bone density in the mouse hindlimb unloading (HU) model, an established Earth analog of microgravity-induced bone loss.

Methods: The HU model has been used for decades to simulate axial unloading and fluidic shifts experienced in microgravity. Over a 30-d period, mice were suspended by their tails, with blood plasma collected at days 1, 15, and 30. Plasma was assessed for the presence of serotonin protein using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantified. At day 30, microcomputed tomography of femur structural changes in HU mice was correlated with plasma serotonin increases.

Results: Serotonin in plasma from HU mice showed increases in plasma serotonin at every timepoint compared to normally loaded mice. Between days 15-30, there was a 1.87-fold increase in serotonin levels found for normal mice while a significantly larger increase of 2.5-fold was found in the HU mice.

Discussion: The HU mouse model showed plasma serotonin is elevated in HU mice, which corresponds to cortical and trabecular bone loss. These data suggest that elevated plasma serotonin may have a role in microgravity-induced bone loss. Specific serotonin receptor antagonists may be a safer countermeasure than currently used bisphosphonates to protect against astronaut bone loss. Casey TJ, Kubik AJ, Allen NG, Zilberman AH, Whitman BM, Hunt JC, Juran CM, French J, Blaber EA. Targeting serotonin pathways for astronaut safety and performance. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(11):969-975.

Introduction: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a common condition in individuals ascending rapidly to high altitudes and often presents with headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms. AMS is prevalent above 13,000 ft (4000 m), but some individuals experience it at lower elevations. This pilot study assessed the prevalence and timing of AMS symptoms in unacclimatized individuals exposed to 16,000 ft (4900 m) in a controlled hypobaric environment.

Methods: A total of 10 healthy, unacclimatized men and women were exposed to an altitude of 16,000 ft (4900 m) for 5 h. Physiological parameters, including heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (Spo2), and respiratory rate (RR), were recorded alongside AMS symptom severity using the 2018 Lake Louise Questionnaire (LLQ) and divided into low, moderate, and high responders based on severity.

Results: All subjects experienced some degree of AMS symptoms, with LLQ scores increasing over time. Two subjects could not complete the full exposure due to moderate and severe symptoms. HR increased (Δ = 7.0 ± 0.6), while Spo2 remained stable but lower than baseline (Δ = 9 ± 4.2). LLQ score increases were strongly correlated with HR, Spo2, and RR. RR remained stable across subjects but varied between AMS severity groups.

Discussion: This pilot study demonstrated that unacclimatized individuals rapidly exposed to 13,000 ft (4900 m) develop AMS symptoms in a controlled environment. The correlation between LLQ scores and physiological changes offers insight into AMS pathophysiology, supporting the need for further research into AMS susceptibility and genetic factors. Murphey JT, Hess HW, Schwob J, Monaco BA, Clemency BM, Hostler D. Acute mountain sickness symptoms after rapid ascent to 4900 m. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(11):958-963.

Background: Elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco2) poses a persistent health challenge during spaceflight. Unlike Earth's environment, the International Space Station experiences Pco2 levels that often exceed terrestrial safety thresholds, creating unique physiological risks for astronauts. In microgravity, localized Pco2 "pockets" can form due to lack of convection, exacerbating hypercapnic symptoms such as headaches, visual disturbances, and cognitive impairments. Moreover, microgravity-induced cephalad fluid shifts amplify the impact of CO2-mediated cerebral vasodilation, contributing to elevated intracranial pressure and potentially exacerbating spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. Chronic hypercapnia also raises concerns about bone demineralization and renal stone formation, compounding mission risks. As we move toward longer missions to the Moon and Mars, mitigating CO2-related health effects through engineering controls, physiological countermeasures, and enhanced monitoring is essential. This article discusses current evidence and calls for integrated strategies to safeguard astronaut health and mission success under the compounded stressors of CO2 exposure and microgravity. Evans LA. Carbon dioxide as a multisystem threat in long duration spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(11):1024-1026.

Background: Spatial disorientation is a leading nontechnical cause of fatal military aviation accidents, triggered by insufficient or misleading cues mainly from the visual and vestibular systems. Spatial disorientation accounts for 20-38% of fatal military aviation accidents, but case reports describing specific illusions during actual flight are rare.

Case report: On a clear night, an aerial refueling tanker was cruising at 16,000 ft (4877 m), while an F-15I fighter aircraft was 3 mi behind and 971 ft (296 m) below. About 100 s before a near collision, the fighter pilot switched to Air-to-Air mode, displaying the distance and speed difference to the tanker via a Target Designator box on the Head-Up Display. However, the crew did not realize they were accelerating toward the tanker [from 597-663 ft · s-1 (182-202 m · s-1)] or climbing by 738 ft (225 m). The two aircraft came within 49 ft (15 m) of each other before the navigator noticed the tanker and initiated a roll to the left.

Discussion: The dip illusion occurs when a pilot flying in trail attempts to maintain the image of the lead aircraft in a fixed position on the windscreen as separation increases, which can lead to unintentional descent. In this case, we propose a "reverse-dip" illusion. The fighter crew was unaware they were closing in on the tanker, causing the Target Designator box to rise in the Head-Up Display. The pilot instinctively pulled back on the stick to maintain the box's position, resulting in an unintentional climb. Recognizing how such illusions develop in flight is essential to reducing future risks. Nakdimon I, Gordon B. Spatial disorientation event during flight due to proposed reverse-dip visual illusion. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(11):1015-1018.