Prospects for applying eye tracking in functional state assessment of pilots

Introduction. The development and implementation of improved methods for assessing the functional state of pilots during their professional activities remains a priority direction in aviation medicine due to the need to preserve the professional health and reliability of pilots and, consequently, ensure flight safety. According to contemporary research, eye tracking is increasingly gaining application in medical and paramedical fields. Human oculomotor activity is influenced by numerous internal and external factors, especially during the performance of various cognitive tasks. Therefore, its assessment holds significant potential for diagnosing the functional state of individuals in extreme professional settings. Objective. To study and substantiate the potential of applying eye tracking technologies for assessment of the functional state of pilots. Materials and methods. The study involved 22 pilots who were requested to perform flights on aviation simulators with simulated emergency and abnormal situations. The pilots were divided into two groups based on the correctness of their actions in emergency situations. Group 1 ( n = 10) (mean age 25.5 ± 2 years) was rated in the range of 7–8 points on a 10-point scale, while Group 2 ( n = 12) (mean age 31.5 ± 2 years) was rated in the range of 8–9 points. The functional state of the pilots was assessed both before and after the simulator flight during the performance of various cognitive tasks. Parameters of heart rate regulation (via mathematical-statistical and spectral parameters of the cardiorhythmogram), balance and mobility of nervous processes (assessment of simple and complex sensorimotor reactions), attention properties, and oculomotor activity using an eye tracker were recorded. Statistical data processing was performed using the Microsoft® Excel-2016 software and the SPSS 26 application software package. Results. In Group 1, the pilots demonstrated a decrease in saccadic velocity characteristics, signs of strain of the body’s adaptation mechanisms according to heart rate variability data, and a reduction in the functional level of the central nervous system. In Group 2, the pilots showed no significant changes in fixation and gaze movement characteristics. However, the cardiorhythmogram revealed moderate strain of adaptation mechanisms and an increased functional level of the central nervous system. Correlation analysis of the data obtained established tight statistical relationships of the velocity parameters of gaze movement with both heart rate variability parameters (PARS, r s = 0.53; p ≤ 0.01) and attention properties, such as capacity ( r = -0.62, p ≤ 0.01) and distribution ( r s = –0.57; p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions. Changes in the oculomotor activity parameters of a pilot during the performance of cognitive tasks while simulating emergency and abnormal situations on an aviation simulator exhibit a co-directional pattern with the dynamics of heart rate regulation, attention properties, as well as the balance and mobility of nervous processes. Saccadic velocity parameters showed tight statistical relationships with both the integral PARS indicator, characterizing the degree of strain of the body’s adaptation mechanisms, and attention capacity and distribution. Eye tracking holds significant potential for diagnosing the functional state of pilots during professional activities as a modern, effective, and integral method.