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Publication AbstractsFunctional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Mental Strategy in a Simulated Aviation Performance TaskMichel Pérès, M.D., Ph.D., Pierre François Van De Moortele, M.D., Ph.D., Christophe Pierard, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Stéphane Lehericy, M.D., Pascale Satabin, Ph.D., Denis Le Bihan, M.D., Ph.D., Charles-Yannick Guezennec, M.D., Ph.D.Aviat Space Environ Med 2000; 71:1218-31 AbstractBackground: The objective of this study was to analyze the sensory and cognitive functions associated with activated brain regions characterizing mental strategy relative to degree of expertise in aviation-related tasks. Methods: We used echo-planar functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique to examine brain activity in expert pilots (n = 6) compared with novice pilots (n = 6) during performance of a simulated aviation track-following task at 200 knots vs. 100 knots. Results: Expert pilots showed reduced activity in visual and motor regions that contrasted with predominant activation within anterior structures including the frontal and prefrontal cortices; structures involved in visual working memory, planning, selective attention and decision making functions. Novice pilots showed widespread activation of anterior and posterior brain structures, with a rise in activity in the visual, parietal and motor cortices as task difficulty increased. Conclusions: A high level of performance in the track-following task related to a high degree of expertise in the aviation field. This corresponded to experts performing perceptual and mnemonic processing through a network of specialized functions from visual through multiple prefrontal areas. By contrast, the novice pilots predominantly show activity associated with non-specific perceptual processing and without subsequent representation of selective information in working memory.Keywords: functional brain imaging, working memory, attention, planning, anticipating, performance, flight path, aviation expertise, fMRI. Information on subscribing, and on obtaining copies of an article or of an entire issue. Table of Contents for Volume 71, Number 12 of the ASME journal.
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