2019, Volume 25, Issue 2

NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS: POSSIBLE APPLICATION IN AVIATION AND AVIATION MEDICINE

ALEKSANDRA DOPIERAŁA¹, ANNA PRZEWODZKA², PRZEMYSŁAW TOMALSKI³
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¹Neurocognitive Development Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw
²Creative Neuroscience Lab – CNS Lab, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine
³Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences


Autor korenspondencyjny: ANNA PRZEWODZKA; Creative Neuroscience Lab – CNS Lab, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine; email: aprzewo2@wiml.waw.pl

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Streszczenie

Abstract: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive optical brain monitoring technology for mapping the functioning of the human cortex in response to sensory or motor activation. There is a growing interest in implementing fNIRS to monitor the cognitive performance of military pilots. The method relies on differences in hemoglobin absorption spectra depending on blood oxygenation. However, this method was relatively rarely utilized in aviation and aviation medicine. Therefore, we will provide a broad review of applying this method in various avenues of medicine and cognitive psychology, as well as cover its documented use in aviation and aviation medicine.

In this review, we cover the following topics: 1) fNIRS in comparison to most commonly used neuroimaging methods, 2) fNIRS in the evaluation of human performance, 3) fNIRS application in aviation and aviation medicine, and 4) fNIRS-based Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) to overcome cognitive restrictions and for optimizing pilot training.

In conclusion, over the years, fNIRS has become a neuroimaging technique that contributes to making advances toward understanding the functioning of the human brain.

Słowa kluczowe

neurocognition, functional studies, functional neuroimaging, brain activity, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), aviation operator performance