Selective Auditory Attention and Spatial Disorientation Cues Effect on Flight Performance

INTRODUCTION: The auditory system is not as heavily involved in the pilot's spatial orientation as the visual and vestibular systems; however, it plays a significant role in the cockpit for communication and warning information. The aim of this research was to investigate the combined effect of selective auditory attention and simulator-induced spatial disorientation (SD) cues on pilots' flight performance. We hypothesized that the flight performance in both disoriented and oriented flight profiles would be impaired by selective auditory attention. METHODS: Using an SD simulator, 40 male military pilots (M = 31.9; SD = 7.41) were exposed to 12 flight sequences, where 6 contained a SD-conflict 3 with motion illusions and 3 with visual illusions. The pilots performed a duration discrimination task (DDT) involving sound stimuli while completing these profiles under SD-conflict and nonconflict conditions. RESULTS: In five flight profiles tested, the DDT and SD cues increased the pilots' cognitive workload, adversely affecting their flight performance. In the approach and landing profiles involving visual illusions, significant differences between the control and DDT groups were found for both nonconflict and SD-conflict flight sequence% whereas differences were only significant between nonconflict and SD-conflict flights for the two vestibular SD profiles. DISCUSSION: The results obtained partially support our hypothesis that performing the DDT, even in the absence of SD-conflict, significantly affects pilots'flight performance. In some cases, despite the large increase in cognitive workload, pilots did not activate the"posture first" principle. Pilots should be trained not to respond to auditory stimuli until they have recovered their spatial orientation.