EEG Data Collected From Helicopter Pilots in Flight Are Sufficiently Sensitive to Detect Increased Fatigue From Sleep Deprivation

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Abstract
This investigation determined whether the electroencephalographic (EEG) changes associated with sleep deprivation could be reliably recorded from aviators flying standardized maneuvers in an aircraft. In-flight EEG data were recorded from 10 UH-60 helicopter pilots who were kept awake for approximately 26 hr. In addition, resting EEGs and mood data were collected in the laboratory between flights. Results indicate that EEG theta activity, and to some extent delta activity, increases as a function of sleep deprivation in both settings. In addition, mood decrements were associated with the fatigue from sleep loss. These results indicate it is possible to monitor a pilot's general fatigue levels via the EEG without interfering with the primary duty of flying the aircraft.