Cardiac and Eye Activity Correlates of Sleep Loss in Helicopter Pilots

Abstract

The effects of one night's sleep loss on helicopter pilot's psychophysiology were investigated. This was done to determine if cardiac and eye measures were sensitive to sleep loss during actual flights. Because of the potentially catastrophic errors that can occur when sleep deprived reliable measures to detect this state are needed. If the deleterious effects of sleep loss can be determined prior to performance break down then it should be possible to devise systems to avoid accidents. Ten pilots flew a standard 1.5 hour scenario three times with increasing hours of sleep loss. Heart rate, heart rate variability and eye blink rate were recorded during the three flights. Heart rate and heart rate variability demonstrated statistically significant effects as the sleep loss increased. Heart rate variability declined, especially during the most difficult fight maneuvers at the highest levels of sleep deprivation.