Can efficiency and prefrontal activity during a working memory task predict pilots’ flight performance

Abstract

For 18 ab initio airline pilots, we assessed the possibility of predicting the flight performance with the efficiency and the prefrontal activity measured during a working memory task. Behavioral results revealed that a better control of the aircraft altitude in a flight simulator was correlated with better strategy during a spatial working memory (SWM) task. In addition, neuroimaging results suggested that participants that engaged more neural resources in the SWM task were more likely to accurately control their aircraft. Taken together, our results emphasized that working memory and the underlying neural circuitries are important for piloting. Ultimately, SWM may be included in pilot selection tests as it seems to be a good predictor of flight performance.