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35 Physical acceleration and experimental illusions in man: can evolutionary top-down- or bottom-up-regulation help to understand the dynamics of anticipation or regression of brain function?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

Wolfgang H. Scherb
Wolfgang H. Scherb*
Affiliation:
Ulm-Institute of Systemic-Solutions and Consulting USCFlight Medical Institute of German Air Force, FFB Germany, D-89075 Ulm, Germany Ehrensteiner Feld 3, E-mail: scherb-ulm@t-online.de
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Abstract

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Introduction:

Studied was anticipation of potentially dangerous (flying)-situations using increasing acceleration in a Flight Orientation Trainer (FOT) in combination with experimentally induced illusions (EI).

Materials and Methods:

Ten right-handed GAFN (German-Air-Force-Novices) aged 20–23 years were trained to perform a situation awareness paradigm (SAP) in three different illusionary states: State I, Situation Unawareness (SU); State II, Spatial Disorientation (SD); State III, Coriolis Kinetosis (CK). Task-related slow potential shifts (SPS), heart-rate and respiration rate were monitored.

Results:

Grand means of DC-potential-shift reflect similar reactions to task demands between subjects. Successful adaptation corresponds to negative DC-shift, while unpleasant sensations and unsuccessful performance correspond to positive DC-shift. By real-time-polygraphic registration of task related slow-potential-shifts it was possible to distinguish three illusionary mental states and three types of possible outcome. I) Unrecognized experimental illusions or situation unawareness didn't influence brain function, but were fatal following controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). A pilot's competent and/ or incompetent handling of the FOT with false yaw, false pitch or false roll was rated by a peer (professional flight-teacher) and could be correlated with autonomic reactions, eye-movements und brain-waves. II) Anticipation of danger or threat under experimentally induced illusions could be correlated with top-down and bottom-up regulations of executive functions of the brain and performance of the pilot. III) Regression with top-down functional brain states can lead to CK in each pilot/ person.

Conclusions:

The method described above to study CK can serve as a model to test scientific questions such as the aetiology of certain somatoform disturbances, reactive depressions, cognitive illusions and performance incompetence with special consideration of failing intuitions and free or unfree will.

Supported by: G-AF, BmVg Germany