Open AccessIncreased functional dynamics in civil aviation pilots: Evidence from a neuroimaging study
Author(s) -
Xi Chen,
Quanchuan Wang,
Cheng Luo,
Yong Yang,
Hao Jiang,
Xiangmei Guo,
Jiazhong Yang,
Kaijun Xu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0234790
Subject(s) - default mode network , neurocognitive , functional magnetic resonance imaging , dynamic functional connectivity , cognition , salience (neuroscience) , dynamic network analysis , flexibility (engineering) , neuroimaging , network dynamics , neuroscience , civil aviation , resting state fmri , cognitive network , psychology , computer science , aviation , engineering , cognitive radio , telecommunications , computer network , statistics , mathematics , discrete mathematics , aerospace engineering , wireless
Civil aviation is a distinctive career. Pilots need to monitor the entire system in real time. However, the psychophysiological mechanism of flying is largely unknown. The human brain is a large-scale interconnected organization, and many stable intrinsic large-scale brain networks have been identified. Among them are three core neurocognitive networks: default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), and salience network (SN). These three networks play a critical role in human cognition. This study aims to examine the dynamic properties of the three large-scale brain networks in civil aviation pilots. We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from pilots. Independent component analysis, which is a data-driven approach, was combined with sliding window dynamic functional connectivity analysis to detect the dynamic properties of large-scale brain networks. Our results revealed that pilots exhibit an increased interaction of the CEN with the DMN and the SN along with a decreased interaction within the CEN. In addition, the temporal properties of functional dynamics (number of transitions) increased in pilots compared to healthy controls. In general, pilots exhibited increased between-network functional connectivity, decreased within-network functional connectivity, and a higher number of transitions. These findings suggest that pilots might have better functional dynamics and cognitive flexibility.